Lok Sabha polls: BJP banking on digital campaign to reach out to voters in Delhi

NEW DELHI: With less than 20 days left for polling in the capital for the parliamentary elections, BJP is banking on a digital campaign to reach out to maximum number of voters across the city. For this, the party has shot short videos - up to two-and-a-half minutes - for all its candidates. These will be circulated through WhatsApp and social networking sites. In their appeal for votes, each candidate will focus on one issue concerning the city that has been assigned to them.

BJP leaders say seven issues have been identified and assigned. For instance, Chandni Chowk candidate and state BJP chief Harsh Vardhan—former health minister—will talk about public health issues apart from corruption and the 49 days of AAP's "misrule". Similarly, New Delhi candidate Meenakshi Lekhi will raise the issue of women's safety and the Congress-led government's failure to ensure it while South Delhi candidate Ramesh Bidhuri will target the Congress on the problems of rural areas and unauthorised colonies.

Party's Jat face and candidate from West Delhi, Parvesh Verma, is also its youth face as he is BJP's youngest candidate for Lok Sabha in the capital. Besides raising national issues, he will focus on things concerning the youth in the city. East Delhi candidate Maheish Girri will talk about Yamuna and social issues while North West Delhi candidate Udit Raj, a former IRS officer, will advocate the need to simplify the taxation system. In a bid to woo Poorvanchali voters, BJP's North West Delhi candidate Manoj Tiwari will be seen making an appeal to them for giving BJP a chance.

"We have representation from all sections of society. With each candidate focusing on one specific issue, it will help us connect better with the voters. The video will also focus on national issues,'' said a senior BJP leader.

The party is planning to use WhatsApp for disseminating its message. The 1.5-2.5-minute long videos will be cut into 15-30-second low-resolution clips so that these can be circulated easily on the chat forum. "These days everyone is using WhatApp to share information. There are chat groups. This is the perfect platform for reaching out to voters,'' said a BJP leader. These videos will also be uploaded on social networking sites.

The campaign will be launched after March 22, which is the last date for filing nominations. The party also plans to send issue-specific electronic direct mailers (EDM) in bulk. "EDMs will help us inform people about our election issues and what the party plans to do after coming to power,'' said a source.

Some of the candidates are making elaborate arrangements to ensure that these messages reach out to a larger audience. Like, Verma is planning to hire mobile vans which will play the message in various parts of his constituency. His workers will also go to colonies to deliver the message. "We don't have much time to campaign. Thanks to all this, we can reach out to a larger audience,'' said Verma.