In Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav's SP has been the main party.
But, they continue to get bad press, compared to other parties.
Dozens are killed in BJP-ruled Haryana and violence of such scale that hadn't been seen anywhere in India but media would never call it 'Jungle Raj'.
Similar was the situation during the Patidar agitation in Gujarat. There were attacks on police stations, houses of ministers, firing led to deaths, and there was complete breakdown of law-and-order, but it was NOT TERMED JUNGLE-RAJ.
The reason is North India's Hindi press [also Hindi channels] is pro-BJP and is biased towards third parties. From mid-80s, Mulayam Singh has faced a hostile Dainik Jagran, Aaj, Amar Ujala and Swatantra Bharat.
However, he always used 'largesse', 'freebies' and other ways to keep owners and journalists of these groups in good humour. But time and again, the same groups have been uncharitable and excessively critical of his party.
These were the media groups that were soft on BJP and even supported it during the Rath Yatra. These groups created communalism and divided Indian society. Yet, Mulayam Singh Yadav and his SP never probably gave a thought to setting up their own media.
The situation is not too different in Bihar. As long as Nitish Kumar was with BJP, he was 'Sushasan Babu', but if BJP is not in the power, it will always be 'Jungle Raj', either it's Lalu or Nitish at the helm. But 'third parties' still fail to understand this?
Are they fools? Or they have no vision? How can, such 'ghaagh' politicians be so vision-less?
They support Zee TV or India TV, despite knowing that these channels will always bite the hand that feeds them, and will defame their governments.
In South India, every party has its channel. Either its DMK or AIADMK, TDP or TRS.
Even AIMIM has a big Urdu paper and a local cable TV channel. What stops the 'third parties' from doing it in North India.
They don't lack funds. The third parties haven't been able to create their internet wings either. We will talk of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) later, though it has also failed to set up its media arm.
PHOTO COURTESY: INDIA TODAY website www.indiatoday.in
