While the election to Ranchi Municipal Corporation is fast approaching, candidates are adopting e-way to reach voters as only a few days are left for campaign. Popular social networking sites, especially Facebook, have been made a prominent media by candidates to spread their views and reach voters. Meanwhile, group messages and mails are also being used widely by candidates to ensure their victory. Candidates say that using e-way will be an ideal method as majority of voters has Facebook, mobile or both.
From improving living conditions in the city to providing public healthcare and filling the gap in the present system, candidates have started fraying in the virtual word also. “The young as well as seasoned guns are leaving no stone unturned in the campaign trail for the polls, evident in the pages they have created on Facebook and the debates triggered on them to canvass support,” said Sashikant, a resident of Doranda.
Contestants have also roped in popular figures of the city for campaigning in the civic polls this year. Ratan Tirkey, a social worker from the city is affraying for Mayor Post said, “like in Tinsel town people have brand ambassadors, my brand ambassador is distinguished Dayamani Barla, the voice of the destitute.” I am active of Facebook for campaigning. I keep on updating wall about my agendas so that internet savvy people should know about me and my future perspective,” he added.
Candidates are adopting the e-way to reduce the poll expenditure also. They are uploading paper cuttings, pamphlets, leaflets and their door to door campaigning photographs on Facebook to entice the Ranchiites. Another Mayor contender, Arun Jhon Prabal said, “I update my status on FB assuring the people that what I will do to develop roads, drainages and other infrastructure once elected.”
Many candidates are uploading their previous work portfolio on Facebook and sending special e-mails to the youngsters with a request to voters to elect them as the corporator of the ward.
Facebook pages of all candidates keep updating information regarding election and their candidates every minute and by inviting people to express their views in the virtual world. Many candidates who are not aware of social networking sites want to be in the rat race. Antu Tirky contestant in fray for Mayor post said, “In Rome behave like Romans and I am doing the same thing. I am not active of Facebook and Gmail but now I think it is high time to be active on internet.”
Other contestants like Ashok Baraik and Arun Kumar Mishra (Ward number 28) have recently joined Facebook feels that social media is not only an up-to-date communications channel between candidates and the voting public, but also an all-inclusive news source for the audience in general, especially those interested in keeping tabs on the progress of polls all the time during the election day.