Political campaigns amidst artificially packed crowds are not new. They are strategies crafted by professional campaign managers.
A fundamental idea, popularized by Prashant Kishor and his I-PAC team, is to hold rallies in narrow streets where the audience looks tightly packed.
Drone cameras then capture sweeping visuals of the dense gathering, making leaders trend on social media. The image of popularity is engineered, not organic.
But this dangerous tactic has already claimed lives. Almost two years ago, during Chandrababu Naidu’s campaign, stampedes killed people. Lessons were not learned.
The same formula was repeated in Tamil Nadu for actor Vijay’s campaign, where over 36 individuals tragically lost their lives.
Why persist with such practices in 2025? Especially when most attendees are mobilized through money, not genuine support.
Spending crores to stage manage offline events, risking lives, is not just outdated; it is cruel. In a digital era, those funds could be channeled into online campaigns, reaching millions without endangering anyone.
Consider advanced democracies. In the United States, rallies are held in manageable halls or natural open grounds. Even with massive crowds, stampedes are rare.
The bulk of campaigning happens through television, online platforms and data-driven outreach. Indian politics, however, clings to theatrics that too often end in tragedy.
Accountability cannot be selective. When actor Allu Arjun was blamed for a stampede at Sandhya Talkies, where one woman died, he faced public scrutiny.
Then what about Vijay, the Tamil Nadu government and the police who failed to ensure safety? All share responsibility.
Crowds are not proof of popularity. They are, more often, manufactured optics. Until Indian politicians abandon these dangerous spectacles, lives will continue to be the collateral damage of ambition.
Usha Chowdhary
