India’s highly anticipated general election results shocked the nation on June 4 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won just 240 of the 543 parliamentary seats, far less than the 400 predicted by many mainstream media outlets. Analysts attribute this significant discrepancy to the mainstream media’s unwavering support of Modi, leading them to create a false narrative of his invincibility.
Throughout Modi’s tenure, traditional news channels became propaganda machines for the BJP, painting him as an unstoppable leader and stifling any dissenting voices. Journalists who criticized Modi’s Hindu-nationalist policies were ostracized, leading to an exodus of reporters to online platforms where they could provide independent coverage.
While the mainstream media predicted a landslide victory for Modi, independent YouTube channels like The Red Mike and journalists like Ravish Kumar focused on issues affecting the people, such as unemployment and educational disparities. These independent voices gained credibility by accurately forecasting election results, unlike the mainstream media.
As viewers increasingly turned to online news for unbiased reporting, the mainstream media faced scrutiny for their inaccuracies and biased coverage. Despite government efforts to censor online content, the public’s trust in independent journalism has grown, suggesting a shift in the media landscape.
In conclusion, the surprising election outcome in India highlighted the influence of independent journalism in providing accurate, trustworthy news coverage. As the traditional media faces criticism for their biased reporting, online news platforms have emerged as a credible source of information for the Indian public.
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