Parties switch to virtual campaign in Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency as mercury soars

Tribune News Service

Parvesh Sharma

Sangrur, June 13

With the temperature rising daily, a majority of candidates are relying on their social media teams to reach out to voters in the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency.

The scorching heat has confined voters to their houses in urban areas, in the rural areas, farmers and their families are busy in paddy transplantation.

Candidates of all main parties, including AAP, SAD, Congress, BJP and SAD (Amritsar), have created their pages on Facebook and other social media platforms. Candidates are utilising WhatsApp to the maximum extent by forming various groups at village, block, Assembly and parliamentary constituency level.

Some experts said they had been focusing area-wise as there were nine Assembly constituencies, with each having its own issues.

“We have our special social media teams from central and Punjab BJP. Our teams have been stationed at Sangrur and Barnala. Members of our teams monitor all content being uploaded on the social media by all candidates, and they quickly react, if there is any need,” said Sunil Singla, state press secretary of the BJP, Punjab.

Bikram Singh, a college student, said social media kept him updated about the bypoll even when he was at home.

The SAD has appointed around 25 members of social media team in each segment. They are working hard to promote the content in the favour of their candidate Kamaldeep Kaur Rajoana on various social media platforms. “We are analysing all content being uploaded by our opponents. These days, we do not need to work hard as almost all know how to operate social media. But they need guidance on how to promote our content and counter the negative material,” said Nachatar Singh, president, IT wing, SAD.

AAP and SAD (Amritsar) leaders have also been sharing their all political activities on the social media to keep their supporters updated.

Trained workers sharing content

In each village, we have 10 trained workers, who share our content in WhatsApp groups & keep a watch on social media content. In cities too, we have 10 trained workers in each ward. — Durlabh Sidhu, PCC

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