As the electoral battle heats up in Uttar Pradesh, political adversaries are resorting to unconventional means to target each other, with social media emerging as a new battleground.
In a recent development, the Uttar Pradesh BJP launched a satirical attack on the Congress leadership through caricatures shared on its social media platform ‘X’, targeting Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
One of the cartoons portrayed the Gandhi siblings with the caption, “Aa Ab bhag chaley” (come on, let’s run!), accompanied by the names of Raebareli and Amethi. The cartoon shows that the sister-brother duo is walking away from Amethi and Raebareli with a trolley bag.
There was a mixed reaction as some netizens hailed this cartoon while some criticised it. Some said, “They are going on a tour to Italy” while one questioned the cartoon and wrote, “sharafat bhi ghol ke pee gaye”.
These constituencies have historically been strongholds of the Gandhi family. The move stirred a flurry of reactions on social media, with opinions divided between support for the BJP’s tactic and criticism of its approach.
The timing of these cartoons is noteworthy, especially amidst speculation regarding Rahul’s candidacy from Amethi and Priyanka’s potential contest from Raebareli. While Sonia Gandhi has opted out of the electoral fray in favour of a Rajya Sabha seat, the Congress is yet to officially announce the candidacies for these key constituencies.
Ajai Rai, the Uttar Pradesh Congress president, emphasised the sentiment among the electorate in Amethi and Raebareli, asserting that the people desire the Gandhis to contest from these constituencies, given their historical significance.
Rakesh Tripathi, spokesperson for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, defended the party’s cartoons, suggesting that the Gandhi family’s reluctance to contest from these constituencies indicates a retreat from the State. Tripathi pointed to Rahul’s previous abandonment of Amethi and speculated that the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is compelling the Gandhis to shy away from Uttar Pradesh. He hinted at a potential exodus of prominent Opposition leaders from the State.
Responding to these jabs, senior Congress leader Amarnath Agarwal questioned the BJP’s narrative, highlighting Modi’s candidacy from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. He emphasised the national stature of Priyanka and Rahul, asserting their capability to contest elections from any part of India.
Agarwal dismissed the BJP’s insinuations, questioning whether Modi would dare to contest from Tamil Nadu, underlining the popularity of the Gandhis nationwide.
As political rhetoric intensifies and social media becomes an increasingly potent tool, the electoral landscape in Uttar Pradesh continues to witness unconventional manoeuvres and sharp exchanges between rival parties.
