Politicos use PR firms covertly to boost appeal among youth

NEW DELHI: Politicians have used PR companies for decades to improve their image and get a wider audience but Narendra Modi's impressive use of such professionals during the LS elections and then as Prime Minister to boost his appeal among the young and those active on social media has increased the clamour among politicians, be they small-time corporators, party workers, MPs or even ministers, to hire such firms in droves.

Most PR firms handling accounts of politicians confirmed that though they have been handling such accounts for several years, there is a perceptible increase in the number of politicians using their services. Moreover, the ones who are not net-savvy want the PR firms to help them get eyeballs on Facebook, twitter, and other social media sites frequented by the young and the urban voters.

Some politicians even took advice from PR firms on how to conduct themselves on stage.