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 unit of Bharatiya Janata Party launched a satirical attack on the Congress leadership through caricatures shared on its social media platform 'X', targeting Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
One of the cartoons portrayed the Gandhi siblings with the caption: “Aa ab bhag chaley’ (Come on, let’s run away!), accompanied by the names of Rae Bareli and Amethi. The cartoon shows the sister-brother duo walking away from Amethi and Rae Bareli 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”.
The Rae Bareli and Amethi Lok Sabha 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 speculations regarding Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy from Amethi and that of Priyanka Gandhi from Rae Bareli. While Sonia Gandhi has opted out of the electoral fray in favour of a Rajya Sabha seat, the Congress is yet to officially announce its candidates for these two key constituencies.
Ajay Rai, the Uttar Pradesh Congress president, emphasised the sentiment among the electorate in Amethi and Rae Bareli, asserting that the people desire the Gandhis to contest from these constituencies, given their historical significance.
Rakesh Tripathi, BJP spokesperson in Uttar Pradesh, defended the party’s cartoons, suggesting that the reluctance of the Gandhi family to contest from these constituencies indicates a retreat from the state.
Tripathi pointed to Rahul Gandhi’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 the candidacy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. He emphasised the national stature of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi, asserting their capabilities to contest elections from any part of India.
Agarwal dismissed the BJP’s insinuations, questioning whether Modi could 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 manoeuvers and sharp exchanges between rival parties.
