->ElliAWB at 18:15, 2 October 2021

2021-10-02T18:15:11Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
[[File:Main bhi chowkidar logo.png|thumb|Logo for the campaign|274x274px]]
{{Narendra Modi series}}
'''''Main Bhi Chowkidar''''' ({{lang-hi|मैं भी चोकीदार।}}, {{trans|"I too am a watchman"}}) is a [[Hindi]] slogan used by the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] in its campaign for the [[2019 Indian general election]]. The slogan was coined by the BJP's prime ministerial candidate [[Narendra Modi]] as a counter-slogan against the [[Indian National Congress]] leader [[Rahul Gandhi]]. It was awarded EFFIE Silver Award 2020 in the category of Government, Institutions and Recruitments. Millions of people changed their DPs (display pictures) and profiles to show their solidarity with Modi.

== History ==
On 14 March 2019, Modi responded to the jibe of [[Chowkidar Chor Hai]] coined by [[Rahul Gandhi]] by launching a campaign with the slogan "''Main Bhi Chowkidar''" for his supporters, implying that everyone is a fighter against corruption and social evils.<ref name="telegraphindia16March">{{cite news|title=Narendra Modi urges supporters to take 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' pledge |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/narendra-modi-urges-supporters-to-take-main-bhi-chowkidar-pledge/cid/1686940 |access-date=18 March 2019 |work=telegraphindia.com |date=16 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ReutersWatchman">{{cite news |title=India's watchmen question whether Modi embrace will improve their lot |url=https://in.reuters.com/article/india-election-watchmen/indias-watchmen-question-whether-modi-embrace-will-improve-their-lot-idINKCN1R406H |access-date=24 March 2019 |work=Reuters |date=23 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Modi even changed the name of his official Twitter handle titled 'Narendra Modi' to 'Chowkidar Narendra Modi'.<ref name="Economic Times 17 March">{{cite news |title='Chowkidar Narendra Modi': PM changes Twitter handle name to counter Rahul Gandhi's chor jibe |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/chowkidar-narendra-modi-pm-changes-twitter-handle-name-to-counter-rahul-gandhis-chor-jibe/articleshow/68448053.cms |access-date=18 March 2019 |work=The Economic Times |date=17 March 2019}}</ref> The slogan came under considerable ridicule from opposition, who labeled it as a "new drama".<ref name="Economic Times 19th Apr">{{ cite news | title=Mayawati slams Congress, BJP; ridicules PM Modi's 'Mai Bhi Chowkidar' campaign | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/lok-sabha/india/mayawati-slams-congress-bjp-ridicules-pm-modis-mai-bhi-chowkidar-campaign/articleshow/68735626.cms|access-date=30 Apr 2019 | work=The Economic Times| date=5 April 2019}}</ref><ref name=DBigXrayRoRahaHai>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/68735626.cms|title=Mayawati slams Congress, BJP; ridicules PM Modi's 'Mai Bhi Chowkidar' campaign|date=5 April 2019|access-date=30 April 2019|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref>

In a coordinated campaign, party leaders of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]], including party president [[Amit Shah]], [[Chief minister (India)|Chief ministers]] and other [[Union Council of Ministers|Union Ministers]] changed their Twitter profile names by adding a prefix "''Chowkidar''".<ref name="BBC_19March">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/social-47623166 |title=मोदी 'चौकीदार' तो 'चौकीदार का मालिक' कौन |date=2019-03-19 |access-date=2019-03-20 |language=hi}}</ref> Eventually, lacs of NDA supporters also changed their names accordingly.<ref name=HuffPost_Profile>{{Cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/in-a-new-gimmick-pm-changes-twitter-profile-name-to-chowkidar-narendra-modi_in_5c8e0464e4b0db7da9f454a7 |title=In A New Gimmick, PM Changes Twitter Profile Name To 'Chowkidar Narendra Modi' |date=2019-03-17 |access-date=2019-03-20 |language=en}}</ref> Modi addressed a large group of watchmen on audio link as part of the campaign.<ref name="bbc_audiolink">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-47114401 |title=Mayawati delivers election shock |date=2019-03-20 |access-date=2019-03-20 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Congress party criticized BJP's election slogan with Rahul Gandhi stating that the truth cannot change since ''Chowkidar Chor Hai''. The chief spokesperson of Congress, [[Randeep Surjewala]], responded to Modi's slogan and accused Modi of being the "only chowkidar who is a thief".<ref name="Rediff16">{{cite news |title=To counter 'chowkidar chor hai' jibe, PM launches 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/pm-launches-main-bhi-chowkidar-campaign/20190316.htm |access-date=18 March 2019 |work=Rediff |date=16 March 2019}}</ref> Congress social media team responded with the slogan "''Main Bhi Berozgar''" (I too am jobless) to highlight the problem of unemployment under the Modi government and to counter ''Main Bhi Chowkidar'' campaign.<ref name="berozgar">{{cite news |title=Youth Cong's 'Main Bhi Berozgar' campaign to counter BJP's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/elections/news/youth-congs-main-bhi-berozgar-campaign-to-counter-bjps-main-bhi-chowkidar/articleshow/68649541.cms |access-date=31 March 2019 |work=The Times of India |date=30 March 2019}}</ref>

[[Aam Aadmi Party]] (AAP) chief [[Arvind Kejriwal]] stated that Modi wants the entire country to become ''chowkidar'' , people who want their children to become watchmen should vote for Modi while those looking for good education for the children to become doctor, engineer or lawyer should vote for him.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-03-20|title=Lok Sabha elections 2019 {{!}} ‘If you want your child to become chowkidar, vote for Narendra Modi’: Arvind Kejriwal|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/lok-sabha-elections-2019-if-you-want-your-child-to-become-chowkidar-vote-for-narendra-modi-arvind-kejriwal/story-r5ubkXcwSqY7Oi3hFwA7IJ.html|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>

Main Bhi Chowkidar is considered more impactful than Chowkidar Chor Hai campaign.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-01-29|title=''Main Bhi Chowkidar'' campaign wins Effie Silver 2020|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/main-bhi-chowkidar-campaign-wins-effie-silver-2020/1721045|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Outlook India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 29, 2019|title=‘Main bhi Chowkidar’ was way ahead of "Chowkidar Chor Hai’ campaign online|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/nation/main-bhi-chowkidar-was-way-ahead-of-chowkidar-chor-hai-campaign-online-780043|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bhattacharya|first=Ananya|date=April 9, 2019|title=Modi’s #MainBhiChowkidar versus Gandhi’s #ChowkidarChorHai—who won?|url=https://qz.com/india/1589903/mainbhichowkidar-vs-chowkidarchorhai-who-won/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Quartz India|language=en}}</ref>

For [[2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election|2020 Bihar Elections]], [[Nitish Kumar]] modelled his campaign ''main bhi Nitish Kumar''( I too am Nitish Kumar) after it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ranjan|first=Abhinav|date=2020-08-03|title=‘Main bhi Nitish Kumar’: JD(U) shapes campaign around Bihar CM ahead of Assembly elections|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/main-bhi-nitish-kumar-jdu-shapes-campaign-around-bihar-cm-ahead-of-assembly-elections/2043055/|access-date=2020-08-16|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Bharatiya Janata Party campaign for the 2019 Indian general election]]
* [[2019 Indian general election]]
*[[Chowkidar Chor Hai]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}{{Premiership of Narendra Modi}}
[[Category:2019 Indian general election]]
[[Category:Indian political slogans]]
[[Category:Bharatiya Janata Party campaigns]]
[[Category:Indian general election campaigns]]
[[Category:Narendra Modi]]
[[Category:Rahul Gandhi]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress campaigns]]

Main Bhi Chowkidar - Revision history

->ElliAWB at 18:15, 2 October 2021