Indian election spoofs get voters laughing

A barrage of political spoofs on the internet and TV is ensuring that every Indian politician is cut down to size, writes Jay Mazoomdaar.
For a people not known to take themselves lightly, a surprising number of Indians are laughing their way to the general election, according to a news agency.
A generous dose of irreverent political humour is now competing with shrill campaign rhetoric, thanks to a new crop of satirists.
The genre is not new in India - there is a rich tradition of cartoons in newspapers - but the appetite for political satire is.
CNN-IBN's spoof show - The Week That Wasn't, starring Cyrus Broacha - was popular long before the last general elections in 2009, and Hindi show Pol Khol (Expose) by Shekhar Suman on Star News became a hit during the 2004 elections.
"Our shows have increased the appetite for humour in India," says Mr Broacha.
"Remember Mel Brooks playing Hitler? It is all about touching the untouchable, the demi-gods and demons of politics. We helped open the door and now you have so many spoofs, particularly on the internet."