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Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s caller nationalist appearances suggest an expanding reliance connected governmental symbolism, spiritual outreach and cautiously crafted ocular messaging — features that person agelong been associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s benignant of wide communication.
Soon aft his triumph successful the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Modi prostrated connected the steps of the Parliament earlier entering the House. Mr. Shivakumar too, soon aft taking oath arsenic the Chief Minister and earlier entering the Vidhana Soudha, was seen prostrating astatine the entranceway to the spot of power.
After assuming bureau successful 2014, Mr. Modi declared that India was entering a “new epoch of development”. Mr. Shivakumar echoed a akin sentiment after the archetypal Cabinet gathering and said it was the opening of a “Nava Yuga” (new era) and “Yuva Yuga” (era of youngsters).
Mr. Modi’s celebrated “chowkidar” (watchman) communicative during the 2019 Lok Sabha run portrayed him (PM chair) arsenic a guardian of the federation alternatively than simply a holder of nationalist office. In a akin vein, Mr. Shivakumar said, “The CM’s seat is not mine; it belongs to the radical and Congress workers. The radical of the State person fixed maine this accidental and work to safeguard the involvement of the State.”
Religious symbolism is different country of convergence. Like Mr. Modi, Mr. Shivakumar has ever been undertaking temple visits and offering peculiar prayers. He participates successful large spiritual events, projecting his religion arsenic portion of his nationalist persona.
Both the leaders person besides paid attraction to idiosyncratic branding done distinctive attire and ocular presentation. While the “Modi Kurta” became a signature benignant that was consequently followed by many, Mr. Shivakumar’s benignant of draping high-end decorator scarves and stoles implicit his ceremonial attire is apt to beryllium emulated by galore youngsters successful the coming days.
The Chief Minister excessively began cultivating a chiseled ocular individuality done beardown societal media messaging, a method associated with Mr. Modi’s governmental style.
While the 2 leaders disagree importantly successful ideology and governmental context, some of them reached the apical posts by doing hard enactment astatine the grassroots levels and are known for highly disposable campaigns. Mr. Shivakumar’s run “Our Water, Our Right" (Namma Neeru, Namma Hakku) during the 2023 canvass run is simply a governmental rallying outcry for the Mekedatu dam project, which is being opposed by Tamil Nadu.
While Modi’s governmental persona is built astir a nationalist enactment narrative, governance reforms, and ideological messaging linked to the BJP, Mr. Shivakumar’s representation is rooted much successful his estimation arsenic an organisational strategist, trouble-shooter, and determination wide person wrong the Congress.
