Main Bhi Chowkidar (Hindi:मैं भी चौकीदार,transl. "I too am a watchman") is aHindi slogan used by theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in its campaign for the2019 Indian general election. The slogan was coined by the BJP's prime ministerial candidateNarendra Modi as a counter-slogan against theIndian National Congress leaderRahul Gandhi. Millions of BJP members changed their DPs (display pictures) and profiles to show their solidarity with Modi.
On 14 March 2019, Modi responded to the jibe ofChowkidar Chor Hai coined byRahul Gandhi by launching a campaign with the slogan "Main Bhi Chowkidar" for his supporters, implying that everyone is a fighter againstcorruption and social evils.[1][2] Modi even changed the name of his officialTwitter handle titled 'Narendra Modi' to 'Chowkidar Narendra Modi'.[3] The slogan came under considerable ridicule from opposition, who labeled it as a "new drama".[4][5]
In a coordinated campaign, party leaders of theBJP, including party presidentAmit Shah,chief ministers and otherunion ministers changed their Twitter profile names by adding a prefix "Chowkidar".[6] Eventually, lacs ofNational Democratic Alliance (NDA) supporters also changed their names accordingly.[7] Modi addressed a large group of watchmen on audio link as part of the campaign.[8]
Congress party criticized BJP's election slogan with Rahul Gandhi stating that the truth cannot change sinceChowkidar Chor Hai. The chief spokesperson of Congress,Randeep Surjewala, responded to Modi's slogan and accused Modi of being the "onlychowkidar who is a thief".[9] 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 counterMain Bhi Chowkidar campaign.[10]
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chiefArvind Kejriwal stated that Modi wants the entire country to becomechowkidar, 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.[11]
Main Bhi Chowkidar is considered more impactful thanChowkidar Chor Hai campaign.[12][13][14]
For2020 Bihar Elections,Nitish Kumar modelled his campaign Main Bhi Nitish Kumar (I too am Nitish Kumar) after it.[15]
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