Kochi: With the increase in reach and growth of the social media, candidates of all political parties made the best use of it. While veteran leader V.S. Achuthanandan of the CPM opened Facebook and Twitter accounts during the campaign period and used them effectively to attack their opponents, many candidates and most political parties formed social media team that worked round the clock to promote their campaigns online.
Campaign on various social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter were more organized this time compared to earlier elections. The most commonly used platform was Facebook while Twitter played the role of an addendum. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, CPM leader Thomas Isaac were the most active on Facebook.
LDF leaders Pinarayi Vijayan and Dr Thomas Isaac and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had live Facebook shown in which hundreds participated. All the parties created short texts and promotional images to circulate on WhatsApp. There was qualitative improvement in the content, too, on the social media this time as most parties and candidates commissioned professionals to prepare content which included videos.
Facebook accounts of several candidates have professionally shot videos which they posted at regular intervals. Indian Union Muslim League candidates created an edge on social media in the initial stages but soon the opponents made it a level playing ground. LDF was the first to post several promotional videos while UDF and NDA followed it up with equally relevant videos.
Most of the candidates used Facebook as a medium to counter the allegations or claims made by his/her opponent. The fight of Azhikode candidates M.V. Nikesh Kumar and K.M. Shaji gained much attraction. BJP’s election campaign was significant on Facebook. The streaming of videos of national leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a boost for the BJP cadre.
The #poMoneModi tweets and CM Oommen Chandy’s fake Kannur Airport post came handy for the LDF and the BJP to poke fun at the UDF, LDF’s Nikesh Kumar became a laughing stock after his water test.
