AAP fights back with Mufflerman

Arvind Kejriwal, the Mufflerman (Photo: Wikipedia, Thinking Youth)

AAP is a political start-up. A bootstrapped start-up with limited resources. Especially in the Indian media landscape which is infested with journalists on hire for political favours or hard cash or both. There is no charge the existing political parties or their supporters can through at the AAP that will stick. Especially with it comes to corruption.

So how one counter AAP? If you are the BJP, you keep repeating "bhagoda" or "mufflerman" to mock Arvind Kejriwal. Call AAP supporters AAPTARDS, Leftists, Socialists, funded by the CIA, etc... They are hoping to make the people forget that Arvind Kejriwal resigned because the BJP and Congress jointly voted against the passing of one of the most powerful anti-corruption legislation the country would have ever seen. 

If you are a Congress supporter, you will go on about how the AAP lacks experience governance. Let's face it, one can't counter the Congress Party when it comes to governance. Look at the CWG, Coal Allocation, Air India, 2G... and it's governance model list goes on. 

One day #MufflerMan will change everything! pic.twitter.com/6mXsXc8xbw
— #MufflerMan (@anilsharma234) November 20, 2014

AAP has limited financial resources, every paisa is accounted for and most of it funded online. Last year, the Congress and the BJP had accused the APP of receiving foreign funding and the Congress promptly ordered an enquiry. It back fired on them. Not only was nothing found on AAP, the Delhi High Court found both the BJP and the Congress GUILTY of accepting foreign funds. 

My Hero #MufflerMan And urs? pic.twitter.com/MHRLCuVAJq
— गौरव گورو Gaurav (@Gaurav_AAP) November 20, 2014

In order to avoid further boomerang both parties intensified their bhagoda and mufflerman campaigns. Not just directly on prime time news shouting matches but also via some who call themselves journalists:

Muffler is out and he will talk non stop- no logical reason will be given why he ran away
— pallavi ghosh (@pallavighcnnibn) November 4, 2014

Again, she calls herself a journalist. I personal think she is a farmer, the plantation variety.

So if you are in the AAP communications team, what do you do?

Muffler season is here.. and corrupts are scared #MufflerMan pic.twitter.com/NE3YMaQQSb
— Abinash Mishra (@Abinash_2K) November 20, 2014

Fight back with humour. YES, AK is our Mufflerman. He is coming back and all the bad guys should be worried. AAP doesn't have a centralised unit of team, most of it's content is crowed sourced or created. The Muffleman creatives are all volunteer submitted.

Corrupts Wondered: Where is the strength of this #MufflerMan?? Answer wide open: In support of ppl, Its their vote.. pic.twitter.com/RIh4uPO31N
— Jayant Kumar (@OnlineExpertLiv) November 21, 2014

If AK's cough and Muffler are the only thing the BJP can through at him. Why not celebrate it? The BJP has been in power for six months, other than frequent flier miles on Air India for Modi, what have they achieved? Is black money back? Is Vadra in jail? It did do somethings though, Ramdev has Z class security and 70,000 students now have to learn Sanskrit before March (great way to make them love the language).

Coolest "political" poster, EVER! "@BooozeLee: This one is epic! #MufflerMan Returns,Can't wait for the trailer. pic.twitter.com/6m5S9oaqn1"
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) November 20, 2014

It's going to be a tough fight. In the end, as in most democracies, the people will get a leadership they deserve. I hope Delhi chooses the Mufflerman.