politicos looking techwards for campaign

For the first time in these elections, technology is being extensively used by politicians and parties in the State.

From mobile phones to websites and online campaigning, politicians are making use of all kinds of technology.

Social networking site Facebook is the latest means through which several politicians are seeking voters’ support.

Though party websites were launched some years ago, several candidates are now using their personal websites and sites like Facebook as an alternative to door-to-door campaigning.

WEBSITES: Almost all the parties in the State have their own websites.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the AP Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Lok Satta Party (LSP) have websites which are updated on a daily basis. The TDP also uploads its press releases and the news appearing in the regional newspapers every day.

PERSONAL WEBSITES: Not satisfied with the party websites, the techsavvy politicians, in order to catch the young voters, are launching personal websites. For example, LSP candidate from Jubilee Hills Assembly segment G Pratibha Rao launched her own website which gives more details about her mission. It actually came in handy for the LSP candidate as the party is opposed to money power in politics.

Several upcoming politicians like Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, and Nara Lokesh, son of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu too have personal websites. Seasoned politician Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has one. N Chandrababu Naidu has a personal website which is a link site from the party’s website.

WEB-CAMPAIGN: After websites, the political parties and politicians are now focusing on online campaign and publicity through e-mails. In fact, the BJP has appointed men to launch on-line campaign for the party.

FACEBOOK: At least three politicians from Hyderabad have launched their campaigns on Facebook, the latest buzz among the Net-savvy citizens.

For example, Hyderabad MP and MIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, his brother Akbaruddin Owaisi and Asad’s opponent and `Siasat’ editor Zahed Ali Khan are trying to muster support through Facebook.

SMSes: SMSes too have become a favourite means of conducting polls to find out the popularity of a candidate in a constituency and spread the message of parties directly to voters.

The TDP is conducting quick SMS polls among its activists to select the candidates in several Assembly segments in case there are three or more in the race for a ticket. The party is also seeking the opinion of partymen on announcing a scheme before taking a policy decision. For instance, the TDP is seeking the opinion of party workers and the general public on its latest decision to implement the Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS). The PRP and the TRS too are banking on mobile phones. The TDP went a step ahead and arranged Caller User Group (CUG) phones to its rank and file in arrangement with the BSNL.