Thiruvananthapuram: The WhatsApp groups operated by political parties like the CPM and BJP play a crucial role in the trickling down of their party agenda to voters during local body elections.
The 'unofficial but yet official' state level WhatsApp groups pass on campaign materials and ideas in the form of posters and videos to lower district-level WhatsApp groups.
The groups highlight agendas and achievements of parties and forward them to ward level WhatsApp group.
At wards, with slight customisation and posters of respective candidates, the materials are forwarded to all known party supporters.
It is the duty of party supporters to carpet bomb these posters on all in their contact list.
"For example when 50 workers join the BJP from the Congress in Thiruvananthapuram, state group will pass on this achievement from state level to district and ward level. Here it's forwarded to voters to show that there is a pro-BJP tide," said a BJP IT cell member.
The CPM with its strong worker base leads the campaign in social media. "Photo posters of ward level CPM candidates are shared onto the facebook wall of our district level leaders. These leaders already have a lot of fans who will share the posters of local candidates from there," a CPM supporter said.
'Technologically challenged' candidates will get assistance from local party workers to start and run a facebook page.
"Workers themselves have to dedicate their facebook account for campaigning if candidates would not want a group on their own," the BJP IT cell representative said.
In Thiruvananthapuram ward sitting councillors like MR Gopan, Sudhir Khan, Sukarno, Leelamma Issac, TK Sreelekha, Resmi MB etc are active on Whatsapp. Heavyweight CPM contestant Karamana Hari started his account on Tuesday.
Facebook groups like Cyber Commune and Comrades who troll the CPM's rivals also lend help to promote candidates online. Though comparatively unorganised, the Congress camp also have started online promotion of candidates.
