THE TEFLON PM?

HE IS SO CHARISMATIC THAT LIKE A TEFLON NON-STICK PAN NOTHING UNWANTED CAN STICK TO HIM. HE HAS ALMOST A MAGICAL ABILITY TO AVOID BLAME

US President Ronald Reagan was often called the "Teflon President". A Teflon leader - the political lexicon says is "so charismatic that like a Teflon non-stick pan, nothing unwanted can stick to him. No matter how much dirt or grime his opponents uncover, no matter how much they ridicule him, the voters keep doting on him. He almost has a seemingly magical ability to avoid blame."

PM Modi's personal charm and style too seem to form a seemingly protective layer that insulates him from his detractors and explains his perpetually high popularity ratings. The answer to the query the FPJ posed about the PM's mystique and magic is perhaps staring us in the face- if the exit polls are to be taken at their face value.

But there is one big imponderable here - the social media it can both reinforce existing beliefs as well as muddy the waters. Many of us are part of the problem, as we tend to live in an echo chamber - be it on Facebook or Instagram. We only wish to hear like-minded voices.

None other than NC leader Omar Abdullah dwelt on this aspect when he said "social media is an echo chamber where wishful thinking is passed off as the national narrative". Without prejudice, this applies to both the Opposition and the BJP.

The long-drawn poll campaign was bad enough inducing both voter fatigue and a feeling of ennui. To top it all, the exit polls are a killjoy - they take away the thrill of listening to a blow-byblow account on judgment day with perpetual edge-of-the-seat excitement and often, with a lump in the throat.