Off late, there have been several instances where Facebook and Twitter has blocked accounts of candidates ahead of Assembly elections citing various reasons. The latest of which is the case of Santhosh Babu, who is contesting from Velachery who has alleged that this could be the work of IT cells of different political parties. Bureaucrat-turned- politician Santhosh Babu, who has been campaigning only online after he tested COVID- 19 positive, is facing another roadblock with Facebook blocking his account.

Temperature is soaring and so is the heat of elections! Ever since elections were announced, all major political parties are in a frenzied effort to reach out to the voters. They are not worried about the scorching sun or adverse climate. All that matters now is the final victory! There is a fine line between a party candidate and a “popular candidate”. Voters resonate easily with a candidate who knows them closely enough and enquires about their well-being than with a hugely iconic figure who is not accessible to them. It is highly essential that the candidate knows the voter in his/her constituency and has a good connection with them.

Quite often, celebrities are the ones who make & set trends. The influence they have on Millenials is colossal and hence it becomes highly imperative that they portray them in the most positive way to the outside world; especially to youngsters. One of the major reasons people love the celebrity world is the mesmerizing glitz ad glamour that it offers. The enthralling red carpet, shutterbugs, fan following, and prodigious paychecks make it all the more tempting.

The Pandemic has confined us to our limited spaces and restricted our movements to an unbelievable level. Along with disrupting our daily lives, it has forced us to be more dependent on technology for even the basic necessities. Things are no different when it comes to the political space. Candidates are forced to think of different and modern strategies to reach their constituents by following healthy practices. The need for a platform to reach maximum voters with minimal efforts is the need of the hour.

Politics has always been about listening. Woodrow Wilson, who was President of the United States a hundred years ago, said, “The ear of the leader must ring with the voices of the people.” A lot has changed in the last century. With the emergence of social media, political campaigns have started integrating digital strategies to their campaigns. Political parties launching digital marketing campaigns are not a new phenomenon, but the use of social media in their campaigns has increased remarkably.