Ahead of Modi's Hunkaar rally, BJP launches massive social media campaign to woo first time voters

BJP is eyeing almost one crore first time voters in Bihar who could be decisive in seeing its PM nominee sail through in 2014. Ahead of his much anticipated Hunkaar rally in the state scheduled for 27th October, BJP has launched a massive campaign on social media to woo first time voters in the state.

NaMo will be addressing the people in Patna after a hiatus of more than three years, his last tryst being in June 2010 during the party's national convention. Modi's 2010 visit ended on a sour note with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar cancelling the dinner hosted for BJP leaders.

In order to make NaMo's 2013 visit to the state a grand success, a 15 member BJP's IT-cell is working day and night behind the scene to mobilising support for the rally. Seven of the fifteen member in the IT cell happen to be hard core IT-professionals who have been deployed by the party's Bihar unit formulate strategy to make a maximum reach to the first time voters. Already 1.5 lac people have confirmed their participation in the rally through social media, online and mobile registration.

Headlines Today/Aaj Tak has learnt that the brain child behind the extensive campaigning on social media for the rally are using all the arrows in their armoury to make the kill. Meet Amritanshu Bhardwaj and Avinash Krishna, both software engineers working for US-based companies. Both of them have engineered the rally's campaign plan apart from the door-to-door campaign being done by party leaders. Amritanshu said "I am working for a US company and based in Patna itself. NaMo has fascinated me and he is best for PM. I have decided to devote my service to BJP. I administer BJP’s website, manage Facebook and Twitter and develop content. Social media does help in image makeover, it’s a fast medium and easily one can reach out to people. I am doing it voluntarily and not charging any money".

To begin with when one visits the Bihar BJP's webpage, you will instantly find former deputy CM Sushil Modi's voice invitation uploaded on it asking people to participate in the Hunkaar rally and slamming Nitish Kumar for his betrayal. On the same webpage online registration for the rally is also going on. Social activist Madhu Kishwar's "Modi-Nama" and Suhel Seth's praise for Namo have also been uploaded on this page. An ardent BJP supporter can also relive the moment when party President Rajnath Singh announced NaMo as BJP's PM nominee in September on this page. Also the CD where the then Railway Minister Nitish Kumar praised Narendra Modi and hinted as Modi leading the nation some day has also been uploaded. More than 4 lac have already visited the Bihar BJP's webpage.

This is not the end. A Hunkaar rally event page has been opened on facebook inviting people to participate in the rally and extend their support. Already 35000 people have confirmed their presence at Gandhi Maidan on 27th October. One can also give a miss call through his cell phone on the 022-30256777 and a text invitation for the rally will be sent. Voice messages and text messages are being sent to 10 lac people across the state for the rally. If still one fails to make it to Patna on D-day, one does not need to worry. Just call on 022-45014501 on 27th October and you can hear Namo’s speech LIVE from Gandhi Maidan.

BJP feels that such high-tech campaigning is primarily aimed at wooing first time voters and youths to support Namo for PM. BJP's IT-cell convenor Sanjay Chowdhary maintains that the youths who are supporting BJP on social media are their potential voters who will help the party prospect in Bihar in 2014. Chowdhary said " Team of software engineers have extended their support to us and working on social media campaigning. These people who are supporting us and accepting our invites will be voting for us in upcoming elections".

BJP is expecting more than 5 lac people to turn out for Namo's mega rally and are doing everything possible to outdo every other Modi rally.

Source: indiatoday