With eye on 2014, Congress gets proactive on social media

With the BJP way ahead in the social media and next general elections barely a year away, Congress strategists are actively promoting unofficial Twitter handles, Facebook accounts and websites to boost pro-party propaganda on the social media platform. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.

The more the merrier. This seems to be the Congress’ mantra when it comes to the social media.

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With the BJP way ahead in the social media and next general elections barely a year away, Congress strategists are actively promoting unofficial Twitter handles, Facebook accounts and websites to boost pro-party propaganda on the social media platform.

The latest entrant is #WithCongress in Twitter and a website and a Facebook account with the same name. These three online forums have started a few days ago, enjoying the patronage of the special publicity and publication committee. While the Twitter handle could draw just 787 followers till Monday evening, the Facebook account has attracted more than 9,000 likes.

The Congress and its offshoots like the Youth Congress already have official social media accounts to quickly post various announcements and speeches. “But these unofficial platforms can offer like-minded people and outsiders a discussion forum on raging issues,” said a Congress social media strategist.

The catch-line is “With Every Indian. With Indian National Congress” and the objective has been set as “to provide a steady flow of information that can be shared and spread by all supporters to counter any negative propaganda.”

Learning its lessons from the social media mobilization by Team Anna in 2011, the Congress stepped up its efforts to make inroads in the online media.