Lok Sabha elections 2019: This Mumbai North West candidate sends out manifesto on WhatsApp

Door-to-door campaigning, distributing pamphlets, road shows and rallies are unaffordable for Aftab Khan, a real estate broker, who is contesting against heavyweights, including Congress’s Sanjay Nirupam and Shiv Sena’s Gajanan Kirtikar.

While top political leaders rely on traditional campaigning, an independent candidate from Mumbai’s North West constituency has decided to go paperless, and focus on social media, instead. The candidate, Aftab Khan, is urging voters to pay him ₹1 online, so he can compare it with the number of votes he gets, to avoid “EVM glitches”.

While top political leaders rely on traditional campaigning, an independent candidate from Mumbai’s North West constituency has decided to go paperless, and focus on social media, instead. (REUTERS)

Door-to-door campaigning, distributing pamphlets, road shows and rallies are unaffordable for Khan, a real estate broker, who is contesting against heavyweights, including Congress’s Sanjay Nirupam and Shiv Sena’s Gajanan Kirtikar.

In contrast to their huge rallies and road shows, Khan is sending out WhatsApp messages and creating Youtube videos.

“Social media is used by people from all walks of life. I don’t have the money to organise grand rallies and road shows. I had contested the 2009 polls from this constituency, where I had done door-to-door campaigning and received 560 votes. My daughter suggested I go for social media campaigns. Door-to-door campaigning is outdated. I am sending manifestos through WhatsApp.

The affidavit on assets submitted by Khan shows a flat worth ₹80 lakh in an SRA building, ₹5,000 in a bank account and gold worth ₹12,000. “The money collected through my campaign will be given to the Election Commission and underprivileged children,” Khan said, adding, “It is difficult for independent candidates to raise funds, but I want to prove that they too can win.”