UP BJP to create 16k WhatsApp groups

VARANASI: As part of its mission 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will create 16,000 WhatsApp groups to connect with its electorates in Uttar Pradesh.

To be created in next fortnight, the groups will be named on party and carry the slogan ‘Saaf Niyat, Sahi Vikas’ as display picture. They will be monitored by UP BJP IT Cell.

“Each group will circulate at least 10 posts about different development projects and propoor schemes started by the BJPled governments at the centre and the state on a daily basis,” said Sanjay Rai, in-charge, UP BJP IT Cell.

WhatsApp volunteers will target students, engineers, doctors, lawyers, farmers, tech-savvy youths, daily wagers and women active on social media.

BJP president Amit Shah and chief minister Yogi Adityanath in presence of BJP IT Cell’s national head Amit Malviya held a brainstorming session with 4,000 social media volunteers in a meeting at Deendayal Upadhyay Trade Facilitation Centre, Varanasi on Wednesday.

Shah gave tips to social media volunteers for driving campaign in an intensified manner.

“WhatsApp is a trusted platform for carrying out intensive campaign. In 2017, BJP created 14,000 WhatsApp groups monitored and operated by its workers before the state assembly elections. They played an active role in circulating party’s messages and promises among the masses. The strategy yielded desired results for the party in the form of landslide victory in UP,” said an insider from BJP’s IT Cell.

With 2019 polls around, the BJP has started the process to create new WhatsApp groups to connect with the masses in general and youths in particular across politically crucially UP where BJP won 72 seats in 2014 general elections.

“At present, the BJP has 14,000 WhatsApp groups active in UP. We will soon add 16,000 new BJP WhatsApp groups to take the tally to 30,000 in UP. We have already started process to create new WhatsApp groups,” said Rai.

Rai claimed the governments led by BJP at centre and state have launched a number of developmental and welfare schemes.

“WhatsApp volunteers will circulate messages such as the rate at which roads are being constructed daily in the present regime and information related to houses provided to financially weaker section people under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana,” said Rai.

“We will also apprise people of benefits of Ayushman BharatNational Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM),” said Rai while also promising to reach out to farmers.

“We will circulate messages on benefits of solar pump scheme under which solar energy operated water pumps to farmers were distributed on highly subsidised rates,” said Rai.

He claimed 25,000 solar pumps have been provided to farmers ever since the BJP came to power in the state.

There will be two WhatsApp Groups on every 12 booths, Rai added.