IT is obvious now that sometime after its second general election defeat the BJP took a strategic decision: The party will become a television show. Sources inside the party and sources who used to be inside the party say there was a deep debate at the highest policy-making party body on whether the show will be aired via news television or what are called general entertainment channels or GECs.

L.K. Advani and Jaswant Singh, among others, were present at the discussions. Both recall—their memories match —a ghostly presence at that meeting. Others also recall the spirit muttering ‘Gentlemen, you remind me of my country… you may not have a future, but, by Jove, can you fight over the past’.

But let’s not digress. That meeting decided in favour of news channels. The decision was based on 1) the two birds with one stone argument; news channels frequently offer entertainment, 2) the brute fact that no GEC worth its salt will allow seven BJP leaders to speak at the same time at cross-purposes. The party had also been tipped off that at least one GEC was planning a show that demanded the truth. This was a key input: the BJP felt it was a reasonable assumption that news channels may not make such stringent demands.

So, now you know why you are seeing what you are seeing on news TV. But I have to say the BJP is yet to fully exploit the full potential of news TV. Here are some suggestions.

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