Ajay Maken, the former Union Minister and the head of the Congress media cell, has more fans abroad on the social media than in India. His Facebook profile has a dismal 2.9 per cent of Indian fans. His Twitter account, too, has 2,87624 followers, but majority of them are from foreign countries. It denotes that the Congress spokesperson is more popular in foreign countries than India. It would have been better if Maken had more Indian followers on the social media who may matter in the oncoming Assembly elections in crucial Hindi belt States and the general elections slated to be held in 2014.
A study of Maken’s 99,007 Facebook fans shows 33,792 fans are from Turkey, 24,122 from Russia, 12,440 from Ukraine, 9,560 from United States, 18,415 from other countries whereas 2,912 fans are from India. What is amazing is the fact that Maken’s fan base is spread in Turkey and one wonders who are these followers of the Congress general secretary and the head of the media cell. Similar trends could be seen in Russia and Ukraine where Maken enjoys support. One wonders what Russians and Ukrainians understand about the statements issued by the Congress spokesman.
Similar trends could be seen if one goes by the statistics of Makens’s Twitter account. Out of his 2,87624 followers, majority of followers are from other countries. It is quite perplexing to note that when national elections are not far away, the Congress spokesperson should have less Indian followers on the social media. Would it help the ruling party to reach those who are active on social media and can influence people’s thinkingIJ The number of ‘tweets’ by Maken are less than 800.
What is baffling is the sheer number of his followers in the foreign countries.