Indian political party trades TVs for votes; free HDTV campaign in 2008?

Although bribery isn't exactly smiled upon here in the States, we've got a hunch that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam political party in India is on to something. In news likely to cause turmoil (or not) among culturally-planted Americans, the DMK promised a bevy of new electronics to folks who cast their vote for them, and apparently, it worked. After falling from power in 2001, the party has stormed back into prominence by offering poor citizens niceties (such as stoves and TVs) which most could never afford on their own. By wording the goodies as "social welfare" benefits, the sets they hand out supposedly aid the voters in receiving news critical to their life, health, and work, which in turn benefits society the DMK as a whole. While America hasn't had the best luck so far with all these e-voting implementations, and considering a good few don't even cast a passing glance at anything political, we'd bet a "Free HDTV" campaign would result in surefire admission into the Oval Office.

[Via Fark]

[jabbathehutt @ Dec 29th 2006 10:42AM]

Actually DMK is doling out 14-inch Chinese imports. These days however, almost every (urban) household has atleast a 21-incher. Well, the free TV will prolly go in the bathroom.

[Rohit Kapur @ Dec 29th 2006 10:46AM]

lol... Ah, India. Making the news again for all the right reasons. :-)

BTW, I'm Indian. Born and raised. And too jaded by this stuff to do anything other than smile now. :-)

[mcnullinson @ Dec 29th 2006 10:56AM]

Sounds like a good old fashion Chicago style political machine to me. You know, the type of political organization that relies on patronage and tangible incentives and that ran this country up until the Hatch Act. Good to see the Indians are following in our footsteps.

[Srikanth @ Dec 29th 2006 10:57AM]

This was a double whammy. The second of the two whammies is that the most popular cable channel is operated by relatives of the DMK chief and is (naturally) heavily partial to the DMK party in its news coverage. So by giving away the TVs, DMK got votes today and potentially votes in the future. The plot is so deviously ingenious, you have to admire it a bit.

[Jay @ Dec 29th 2006 10:58AM]

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, I 2 am an indian!

[Harsh @ Dec 29th 2006 10:59AM]

Haha, am from TN, India. These TVs were useless to say the most :P

[Tackle @ Dec 29th 2006 12:12PM]

If I remember correctly, the DMK did not give TV/Stove to get votes. They promised that they'd give TV and stove to poor if they came back to power. If they are keeping their promise or not, I don't know.

[Storm9 @ Dec 29th 2006 12:13PM]

I dont think Nintendo would like too many people having HDTV's.
For their little Wii Wii would not look so good when everyone has a HDTV.

[VP @ Dec 29th 2006 12:55PM]

you got to pay for the cable subscription which goes to the group which is owned by the DMK chief's grandson (who owns the "sun tv" network.)

[derrik @ Dec 29th 2006 2:09PM]

Now if they did that with PS3's here...

http://www.flippingrich.com

[Semi @ Dec 29th 2006 2:43PM]

so much for the worlds biggest democraZy...

[dij @ Jan 1st 2007 9:51AM]

america?

[Peebert @ Dec 29th 2006 4:20PM]

Absolutely zero difference between this and the American political system. Zero.

[Slymon @ Dec 30th 2006 8:51AM]

Dumbocracy.

[Mike S @ Dec 30th 2006 1:19PM]

I'd so do that for a 60" or larger plasma and maybe a surround sound system :-)

[Kumar @ Feb 20th 2007 12:37AM]

DMK's benefit from giving free TVs is that they own a 14-channel Television network (Sun TV) that is the most popular tv network in the state...