Social media preferred medium to lure voters

The political parties and candidates in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are making their presence felt on social media in order to lure netizens to cast their votes in favour of their candidates and for themselves.

They have engaged themselves in multiple ways to connect with different target groups. The videos are being made either to highlight a particular political party or to take on an opponent.

Besides conventional campaigning, social media has turned into a platform for impromptu surveys by a few local channels. The candidates routinely share videos, photographs on their campaign trail and visits to different places of worship.

Social media now has proved to be the more effective medium due to its huge audience and followers, said a worker of a party.

Numbers

In the number of ‘likes’ and ‘followers’ in this virtual world, Congress-JD(S) candidates lag behind BJP candidates in the two districts. BJP candidate from Udupi-Chikmagalur candidate Shobha Karandlaje has highest followers (1,65,169) on Facebook and 1,62,416 people have liked her posts.

Congress- JD(S) candidate from Dakshina Kannada, Mithun Rai is being projected as ‘voice of youth’ in the posts on Facebook page.

In the posts, he appeals to the voters to ‘vote for change’ and ‘vote for Dakshina Kannada.’

He also shares his dream of promoting rubber-based small industries in the district in order to make growers entrepreneurs through central government’s schemes. An agriculture produce export-oriented special zone in the district is his another dream. Videos on Rai are also being posted.

Dakshina Kannada BJP candidate and sitting MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, projected as non-corrupt, has been highlighting the welfare schemes of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The videos on corruption-free India under the leadership of Modi, how tax exemption announced in the budget benefitted Rs 5 lakh salaried class people, benefits of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Sukanya Samruddhi yojane and so on have been posted.

Many videos of Modi addressing people on different occasions have also been posted in order to seek votes for the BJP.

Campaign trail

JD(S)-Congress Udupi candidate Pramod Madhwaraj too is using social media to connect to the people. Apart from candidates and political parties, even MLAs and minister from Dakshina Kannada district are also using social media to reach out to the people on campaign trail, achievement of the government and so on.

According to Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer of Dakshina Kannada Sasikanth Senthil, the authorities were keeping a strict vigil on social media. The political parties had been sensitised on adhering to the model code of conduct.

He urged the public to desist from posting any inflammatory materials on social media. Campaigning on social media without seeking permission from the candidate is an offence.

The DC warned of filing an FIR on the basis of inflammatory contents published on social media.