BJP pushes back election rallies; to focus on digital connect
NEW DELHI: As it has done in previous elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party is ready to buttress its campaign on the ground with technology to deliver the party’s message ahead of the upcoming set of state elections.
The party has announced it will not be holding rallies for the time being in the election-bound states, including the Jan Vishwas Rally, that was scheduled to be addressed by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Saturday in Uttar Pradesh. “As of now, we will not have any large gatherings, but smaller chaupals (meeting in smaller groups in public spaces),” said a senior party functionary.
Functionaries said while the party is awaiting the election commission of India’s directive on how rallies and larger campaign will have to be tailored to adhere to Covid-appropriate behaviour; it is prepared to shift to virtual rallies and digital outreach as it had done during the
Bihar polls.
“We are prepared. In Uttar Pradesh for instance, we have trained IT karyakartas at the mandal level... About two months ago we held a training programme for about 8,000 workers and now the technical set up for live casting of speeches etc is in place,” said a functionary based in UP.
While internet penetration even in rural areas has made canvassing easier; the party still has to bank on traditional doorto-door campaigns to reach out to the older demographic and in far-flung areas of states.
“Not everyone is well versed with technology and while the older generation is familiar with
TV and radio, they are not particularly comfortable with social media and smartphones. So we prefer to visit villages and interact with people in smaller groups for better connect,” said the second functionary.
The party is also relying on catchy advertisements and short films to sharpen its attack on the opposition. A functionary said, the party has prepared about eight short videos and advertisements for print publications and hoardings that will be splashed across the state.
BJP ANNOUNCED THAT IT WON’T CONDUCT RALLIES FOR NOW IN POLL-BOUND STATES, PLANS TO HOLD CHAUPALS