Political parties gears up for launch of online blitz on Social Media

Bengaluru: Political parties are gearing up for the launch of an online blitz of sorts on different social media platforms in Karnataka as the countdown for Assembly elections 2018 begins. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in the opposition in the state, has unveiled plans to launch at least 5,000 WhatsApp groups for 'starters’, said the p

With the online push, Bengaluru could soon become a second 'base' for the BJP's e-outreach before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as Prime Minister Narendra Modi finds the online campaign teams in the IT hub to be very strong.

"Modi was impressed with the work from the Bangalore volunteers. So he says we could build greater strategies, especially for the English-speaking audience, out of Bengaluru, which could be a second base ahead of 2019 elections."

Over the past three years, a huge database has been collated during public events, and the teams are reaching out to voters based on what interest group they fall under  students, homemakers, women, rural, urban, senior citizens, army veterans etc.

The Congress, which has also realised the power of social media, says it is not worried about the numbers being projected by the BJP. Actress-turned-politician Divya Spandana, who currently heads the Congress’s national social media cell, said they have a two-pronged approach.

 First comes the national picture it wants to take on the BJP on issues such as corruption, economics and policies, unemployment and the recent cases of lynching. The second focus is on highlighting the central government's perceived lack of interest in supporting Karnataka over issues like the Cauvery water-sharing row, drought relief, farm loan waivers and the imposition of Hindi language.

The strategy is in line with what Chief Minister Siddaramaiah articulates in almost every public meeting that whenever he led all-party delegations with many BJP leaders to the PM to press for support, the BJP leaders have always been silent, be it on Mahadayi, Cauvery or drought relief.

"We know when they (BJP) say 5,000, they actually mean 500. The BJP is all about perception and hype. To be honest, in all modesty, we have a lot more WhatsApp groups than their perceived number of 5,000," said Divya Spandana, adding that even the Facebook connect of the Congress was higher than that of the BJP’s.

In the next two to three weeks, party leaders will fanning out under the 'vistara' programme. Every MLA or MP will leave the comfort of his or her home constituency and meet people in a different constituency.

"By the end of July, we will organise our social media teams and strategies too, as by then registrations of more volunteers will be completed. We will focus our strategies on the achievements of the Modi government and the failures of the Congress in Karnataka," said Srinivas. "We are collecting data from Centre and state on different programmes and have a number of issues to showcase the Congress's failures.”

The online fireworks are just beginning. Come August, both parties will likely be spamming voters’ inboxes.