Inside the BJP’s WhatsApp Election Machine: How the Party Uses Social Media to Reach Voters

The Power of WhatsApp in India’s Election Campaign

In the bustling political landscape of India, social media has become a powerful tool for political parties to reach millions of voters. One such platform that has emerged as a key player in the election campaign is WhatsApp. With more than half a billion users in India, WhatsApp has become a battleground for political messaging and propaganda.

Ankur Rana, a social media coordinator for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Meerut parliamentary constituency, manages an impressive 400-450 WhatsApp groups with thousands of members. He is part of a dedicated team set up by the BJP to ensure their message reaches a wide audience. The scale of their operation is massive, with volunteers like Ankur reaching up to 10-15,000 people every day.

WhatsApp has become a crucial platform for the BJP to communicate their message, especially as they aim for a target of 370 seats in the Lok Sabha election. Volunteers across Uttar Pradesh run hundreds of WhatsApp groups, sharing political messages and hashtags provided by the party’s headquarters in Delhi.

However, the spread of information on WhatsApp is not without its challenges. Viral messages, some of which contain misleading or false information, can easily circulate across groups. The BJP’s social media campaign has been accused of spreading misinformation, with claims that the opposition party favors the Muslim minority being shared widely.

Despite the challenges, WhatsApp remains a powerful tool for political parties to influence voters. The BJP’s narrative, whether official or unofficial, can shape public opinion and ultimately impact election outcomes. As the election campaign heats up, the battle for control of the narrative on WhatsApp continues to play a crucial role in shaping India’s political landscape.