Social Media had an impact, at least in Delhi

A quick take from the incoming results in the Delhi elections where the story quite clearly is that of the stunning success of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the decimation of the Congress. The BJP might form the government in the city-state of Delhi but they failed to capitalize on the anger of the electorate. Some numbers coming through show that the AAP and the BJP are extremely close on vote-share numbers, so we can expect several Op-Ed’s on the flaws of the ‘First past the post’ system.

Anyway, moving on, this election at least in Delhi clearly indicates that social media worked. The AAP managed to convince not just a lot of ‘aam aadmi’s’ but also a lot of the upper classes and that was in no small part due to the effective use of social media. The AAP is clearly the first beneficiary of the social media revolution in Indian politics. We might or might not agree with some of the tactics used by AAP supporters online, but on that front they are as good or as bad as their political rivals.

It remains to be seen what the AAP will do in the Delhi assembly and whether this vote will consolidate into seats in Parliament, the AAP does have enough votes to nominate at least one candidate to the RS whenever that happens in Delhi. Will Arvind Kejriwal stand against Ajay Maken for the lok SabhaIJ Will Kapil Sibal indeed run away from Chandni ChowkIJ Those are matters for another day, but for now delight at the extreme success of social media.

Onwards to 2014.