Chennai: Next to Maharashtra, internet penetration, rather the usage, is high in TN. This could translate into a potent tool in the hands of BJP’s social media volunteers who would take the campaign during this Assembly poll closer home.
Anticipating a big role for the party’s media cell members and also volunteers, the BJP hopes to tweak its social media strategy to make it more interactive.
Social media is a powerful tool which should be used “cleverly” first to build up contacts and gradually take up campaigning during Assembly elections, is the advice of BJP national IT Cell, president Amit Malaviya. During this recent visit to the city, he imparted a few tips to party workers on how to remain updated.
For instance, in West Bengal, the saffron party had named its social media campaign as “Jan Barta” or public dialogue and “Assam Dialogues” in Assam where the party is flexing social media to make voters congregate at a spot and talk to them.
The rallies which would be organised for the purpose would be addressed by party leaders. In Tamil Nadu, the party’s social media campaign goes by the name: “The Lotus Dialogues” and it will identify poll specific issues which would be addressed individually.
“From a one-way communication in virtual space, the social media could be effectively used to reach out to voters, including youth, to ascertain their expectations,” a BJP senior said. According to M. K. Ravichandran, BJP Media Cell, the party is planning to enlist the support of technical experts who could ensure seamless interaction among the party members.
The next stage would be to expand the network among friends of BJP and the social media volunteers. To ensure prompt response, the BJP has appointed a team of dedicated professionals at the national level and tasked them to take care of its social media presence.
The state unit had already completed the meetings of volunteers in a few districts and hopes to complete them in rest of the districts in about a month’s time.
