Mail News Service
Jamshedpur :� With Lok Sabha round the corner, political parties are focusing on e-savvy campaigners for spreading their ideologies and views in the social media while senior leaders battle it out in the ground level. Almost all the major political parties have strengthened their IT cells from the state-level to the Parliamentary constituency, Assembly constituency and even at block levels.
Anil Modi, media in-charge, BJP said that since the electorate is estimated to comprise a record number of under-35 and first-time voters so the party is focusing on hi-tech means of campaigning. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to have taken a lead in terms of social media, websites, SMS campaigns and aggressive advertising. Some of the candidates are also using dummy EVM machines to educate the voters about the way to exercise their franchise.
�We have set up a team of e-savvy activists at every level of the party rank and file. The cell is being monitored from the unit at state party headquarters in Harmu. We have a strong team of good command over languages, Hindi and English, ability to pick up issues after gleaning through newspapers and good skills in smartphone and desktops,� said a BJP leader.
The senior BJP leader further said that the content is approved by the senior leadership at the center and state level.
Congress, heading the gathbandhan alliance in the state, also has a team of IT cells at different levels which is remaining active 24 hours.
�We are focusing much on social media this time. We have asked the IT cell members to be active 24×7 for any issues by the ruling BJP party leaders or MP aspirants and inform us. Most of the IT cell members are young and dynamic and are well connected with digital and traditional medium for latest news. However, before propagating any content we ensure that it is scrutinized by senior leaders,� said Congress leader.
The party has separate media pages for all its leaders. �For each constituency, we have 12 people who look after the media content, fake news and handle trolls,� said a senior member of the cyber wing.
A senior leader of Congress informed that senior writers are also being used in the IT cell to frame stories in favour of the party and campaign one-liners.