Unexplored Aspect of Political News

Like anywhere else in the world, political news always becomes the top headline in the list of Odisha news. Latest political news always attracts TV news channel viewers as well as newspaper readers. Political news in Odisha ranges from rural politics to the impact of Odisha’s political leaders in national political arena.

In recent past latest political news in Odisha involved panchayat and urban body polls. Recently all eyes are on the latest political news related to Rajya Sabha polls. In the rush to cater latest political news usually other major Odisha news gets neglected. It is for sure political news in Odisha becomes points of discussion. But media houses providing Odisha news also have some responsibility for the society. They cannot ignore this duty by concentrating on latest political News and Odisha news.

During recently concluded panchayat and urban body polls Odisha media devoted itself to political news in Odisha. Most of them thought latest political news was the only Odisha news available. Political news fished out as Odisha news became monotonous as they only involved allegations and counter statements of political leaders. Latest political news was nothing but gossipy verbal outbursts of politicians.

The people at the helm of affairs at most Odisha news providing media houses forgot that while reporting latest political news as Odisha news they could have touched several other newsy themes related to lives of the masses. Many burning issues that are never raised on political platforms could have been taken up in relation to latest political news.

Environmental issues were never linked to political news in Odisha. No political party in Odisha adhered to green protocol during the election process. But it never became latest political news in the array of Odisha news dished out at that time.

Political parties and their candidates are advised to use only eco-friendly campaign materials like boards, cut-outs, banners, flags, etc, which can be recycled. Almost all political parties violated this green protocol, but this violation never became major political news in Odisha.

Green activists felt materials like plastic, polyvinyl chloride and polythene should not be used during campaign process, but political leaders in rural and urban areas did not know about it as its violation was never broadcast or got printed as political news or key Odisha news.

It is surely important political news that newsmen covering latest political news in Odisha can take note. During all elections contesting candidates and different political parties have used several non-biodegradable campaigning materials only because it was never reported by media as latest political news. Through this practice political elements caused harm to the environment without having a second thought about it. If anti-environment activities of political parties could have been reported as Odisha’s latest political news then these political parties could have become cautious as they only think of political news as Odisha news.

Several green activists appealed to all candidates and political parties to follow green protocol during the campaign process. But their appeal never reached the top brass of political parties and the general public as media never thought these appeals could have been important political news in Odisha. Green activists had urged the chief electoral officer of Odisha to ensure the green protocol in polling stations, counting centres and other election offices. This again was never publicised as latest political news or political news in the Odisha news world.

When Odisha government banned the use, transport, stock and manufacture of single-use plastic materials in the state from October 2, 2019, statements of politicians about it had become latest political news in Odisha. But the issue was easily forgotten while latest political news was being reported during the panchayat and urban body polls.

Campaign materials were nailed to trees causing lethal harm to these living entities. But it never became any political news of importance as in the Odisha news world environmental factors have not yet become political news of importance. Candidates for key posts, including that of mayors and chairpersons of ULBs and municipal corporations, nailed their election materials like flex boards and cut-outs and flags onto trees. They wouldn’t have done that if they would have thought this act of theirs could become political news in Odisha.

Odisha news caterers should realise that statements related to protection of environment by world leaders are becoming latest political news in international media. Degradation of the environment by political leaders and parties in Odisha can also be hyped up as latest political news in Odisha. It is time to take up environmental issues as political news in Odisha. Commoners have started to face vagaries climate change. So, environmental issues can be reported as latest political news. It will be make politicians conscious about these issues.