The result date of 2022 UP Assembly elections has suddenly become the fulcrum of the poll campaign blitz for every major political outfit in the poll-bound state.
‘Dus March’ has become the buzzword around which leaders of most parties have launched their campaigns on digital and social media adding a new flavour to this edition of the State elections. Digital posters have some themes in common – all parties are claiming to form the government on that date and messages are being conveyed in a very creative manner.
A Samajwadi Party campaign reads: “Dus March, UP recharge (with Akhilesh’s face dominating the poster).” Another SP digital poster says: “Dus March ko aa raha hoon, 300 unit free bijli laa raha hoon (I am coming on March 10 with 300 units free electricity). Samajwadi Party spokesman IP Singh shared a digital poster on his twitter handle that reads: “Dus March, Yogi saaf (Yogi will be wiped out on March 10).”
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janata Party digital poster says: “Dus March, phir Yogi-raaj (Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s rule again from March 10).” The poster depicts Yogi Adityanath among a large crowd. Another BJP poster reads: “Raaj tilak ki karo taiyaari, Dus March ko phir aa rahey hain bhagwadhaari (Prepare for coronation as the saffron-clad are returning on March 10).
Not to be left behind, the Congress’ digital poster with a picture of party’s national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi reads: “Dus March...hogi mahilaaon ki jeet, UP mein shuru hogi nai reet (women will win on March 10 and harbinger new tradition).
The Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) shared a poster of its national president Jayant Chaudhary that reads: “10 March...taarikh tay ho gai hai...ku-shaasan ka hoga ant, su-shaasan lekar aayenge Jayant (Jayant will bring in good governance, the bad governance will end on March 10).
These digital posters are shared extensively by political parties, their leaders, cadres and supporters on the social media.
Congress leader Amarnath Agarwal explained, “We have no option but to rely on this digital campaign as the Election Commission of India has banned political rallies, public meetings, yatras and nukkad sabhas till January 15. It has also prohibited publicity through hoardings or wall writings and hence we are left with this mode of campaigning.”