With an eye on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the State unit of BJP has decided to revamp and strengthened its IT cell so as to enhance social media presence in virtual space. As the 2019 election will be fought not only on the strength of cadres, but also on social media, the State unit will intensify its cyber war on oppositions.
The new voters who are in the age group of 18 to 22 years will be the target of BJP’s cyber cell. The State unit of BJP IT cell has convener and co-convener in all 24 districts of State, along with 2.5 lakh dedicated volunteers or ‘cyber sena’. Bhanu Jalan, the State Convener of BJP IT cell said, “We have dedicated volunteers of cyber sena in all 24 districts, along with members at Lok Sabha constituency wise, assembly-wise, block wise and even panchayat wise. These volunteers are members of the party who are active in social media.”
“The work and activities of these volunteers is being looked by convener and co-convener at all districts who are directly under the supervision of State level convener,” added Jalan. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah on several occasions had categorically asked BJP cadres and members to have optimum use of social media to reach out to voters, the BJP State unit has decided to intensify its campaign through social media.
The volunteers or ‘cyber sena’ members have been directed to reach out to voters highlighting the various development schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Schemes such as Ayushman Yojana in health sector, social security schemes such as medical insurance and term insurance, toilets, houses to all, Ujjwala schemes, Mudra schemes and others have really helped in improving the life style of masses. The cyber volunteers have to spread and propagate how people get benefited with the schemes,” said BJP media in-charge Shiv Pujan Pathak. BJP workers have been asked to use Facebook and Twitter to make people aware of the central government’s achievements.
The BJP IT cells on various occasions even receive complaints and suggestion on social media platform about the various Central Government schemes. Based on complaints and suggestions received by IT cell, the cyber experts at IT cell pass on the suggestions and complaints either to concern BJP MPs, MLAs of the areas or to government officials. The IT cell members other task also includes on giving positive reaction or counter comments to the comments posted by opposition parties.
Apart from already existing IT cell, the State Unit of BJP is also to set up a dedicated war room at State party headquarters.
The war room will facilitate exchange of ideas and information at State Capital from districts and even at national level. The war room at State Capital will also be connected with IT cells at all Lok Sabha constituencies in State. The war room will be manned by experts from the fields of IT, cyber and computer.
The war room will also have information about public meetings, worker meet, campaign trails of star campaigners of party along with election activities of opposition parties in State.