Candidates prefer direct connect with voters
Welcome to the world where social media loses its sheen to overthrow regime, latest gadgets come crashing in the want of infrastructure and modern tools of communication technology give way to the grand old consultation methods. It is 2014 but it is Jharkhand, one of the least internet penetrated states of the country.
This is the reason why most of the heavyweights into the fray for the general elections either do not have their active social media account or not a comfortable user. From Ranchi, considered as the most urbanised centre of the State, just two prominent contestants have their Facebook accounts.
“First of all, I would like to apologise for not being an active user of Facebook because of which I could not revert back to your messages and the major reason being the #Electioncampaign . Over the past few months I have been busy visiting places and interacting with people personally (In and around the city), and I feel blessed when people welcome me with open hearts and let me know about their issues and grievances….,” reads a post of JVM candidate and former IPS officer Amitabh Choudhary.
When asked, a close aide of him said that little benefit from the social media in the elections was the reason for maintaining a distance. “How many of voters have Facebook and Twitter accounts in RanchiIJ The number is very few and it is waste of time for a candidate.”
Three-time MP from Ranchi Ram Tahal Choudhary does not have any such account and not even an e-mail id. “leave alone this, I do not even pick my phone during campaigning. I have been among people and want to have a direct connect with them. One to one consultation on personal level is not possible through all this,” said Choudhary.
Another retired IPS and BJP nominee from Palamau VD Ram is social media account-less. limitation of information technology seconds the disenchantment as even his mobile phone could not be reached just outside town Daltonganj. “It is a big problem and the candidates are relying more on old and trusted means. Anyway in the area as backward as Palamau it is very difficult to gain anything through computer and Internet,” said a poll manager of Ram.
Whatever the limited scope social media has in the run-up to the polls it is showing its effect. “Ganje ko kanghi....hahhhahhahaa.....ye to topi pahnane wali baat hui....kahin Marandi sahab AAP ke nakshe kadam par to nahi chal rahe.. Sirji thora satark rahiyega,” remarks a follower of the JVM candidate talking about Amitabh’s baldness.
Considered a representative of youth politics, AJSU leader Sudesh Mahto though has no official Facebook account but one being run in his name propagates things to net voters. One post claims that Indian captain MS Dhoni would seek votes for AJSU party after T20 — World Cup. Though is not confirmed but this may give the desired fillip to the party candidate Sudesh.
Incumbent Ranchi MP Subodh Kant Sahay seems to be quite active in updating through his posts about the meetings taking place during electioneering. Though, his counterpart from Jamshedpur Dr Ajoy Kumar is using social media to decipher his ideas and agendas about economy and development for next five years for his relatively urbanised constituency.
Ajoy Kumar posted on his Facebook campaigns like ‘jaago voter jaago’, a picture of his bowing before a tribal woman that got over 500 likes and his report cards as an serving MP to gain whatever is possible.