Realising the potential of social media, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi made a debut on microblogging site Twitter on Thursday under the name of ‘Office of RG’. Within moments after the launch, his Twitter handle registered over 21,000 followers. “We are happy to launch the Twitter account of the Office of Mr. Rahul Gandhi (@officeOfRG),” an e-mail message from Rahul Gandhi’s office said.
Congress sources, however, insisted that it is an “office account and not a personal account” of the party vice-president and that his office will be taking care of the Twitter handle and tweeting on his behalf. The handle profile read: “This is the official account of the Office of Rahul Gandhi, Member of Parliament, Vice President, Indian National Congress.”
The very first tweet posted on the Twitter handle this afternoon stated, “Watch this space for information and updates on Rahul Gandhi’s official programmes and upcoming events.” It later announced Rahul’s proposed padyatra programme in Telangana.
“On 12th May Rahul Gandhi will begin a 15km padyatra in Telangana’s Adilabad Dist- covering 5 villages, starting from Wadial Village,” the tweet said. Rahul will be beginning his second leg of padyatra on farmers’ issues from Telangana region.
Sources said that the account is yet another window to ensure faster dissemination of information related to Rahul’s programmes and movementsl. “Post Kisan Padyatra in Vidarbha, Maharashtra and visits to grain markets in Punjab, the Congress VP will be undertaking Kisan Padyatra in Telangana,” the AICC said in a release. Rahul will undertake a 15-km long padyatra from Monday during which he will interact with farmers and women from SHG and visit their homes.