Buoyed by the success of Internet campaign in Gujarat and Karnataka Assembly elections, the BJP Gujarat unit is now strengthening its e-operations. Keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the IT cell of the party has launched an ambitious 'e-literacy drive' among its party functionaries.
The party workers at district levels will be trained to effectively use the Internet, both as a medium of communication as well as campaigning, according to BJP leaders.
Not only is the cell is gearing up to enhance the computer literacy level among its party rungs, but it is also set to enter the second stage of cyber campaigning through blogging.
"We had done a very good job in the last Assembly election by campaigning through SMS, e-mails and occasional comments on political blogs favouring the party," said Dr Shashiranjan Yadav, Convener, Gujarat BJP IT cell.
"While we had a lot of teachers and students who had Internet connections at home doing the job for us, now we would like to take a step ahead and fortify this area," he added.
The Gujarat BJP recently had an IT workshop for the district level functionaries and the party is reported to have already created about 160 e-mail ids for them. "We evaluated how the e-campaign fared in the last two assembly elections and then also deliberated upon the track we should take for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," Yadav said.
The concept of cyber campaign had fallen flat after the BJP's Lok Sabha debacle in 2004, when the then chief party strategist Pramod Mahajan's high profile campaign had fizzled out.
"The time has changed and young India is far more net savvy now," Yadav said, adding: "So, the fear around the idea of cyber campaign that was generated after 2004 Lok Sabha polls has been effectively dispelled after the electoral success of the party in Gujarat and Karnataka."
The cell is also geared up to play a more important role in the coming general elections. "During the assembly elections, we had people from other parts of the country getting in touch with us through our websites. However, such connections could not be translated into direct voting for the party, which will now be possible in the Lok Sabha polls," Yadav said.
He went on to say that Internet has incredibly extended the party's reach, and "with over four crore people using cellphone to surf Internet, the potential is only increasing".
The BJP will organise a series of workshops to empower its members and strengthen its infrastructure at the district levels, he added.
The party workers at district levels will be trained to effectively use the Internet, both as a medium of communication as well as campaigning, according to BJP leaders.
Not only is the cell is gearing up to enhance the computer literacy level among its party rungs, but it is also set to enter the second stage of cyber campaigning through blogging.
"We had done a very good job in the last Assembly election by campaigning through SMS, e-mails and occasional comments on political blogs favouring the party," said Dr Shashiranjan Yadav, Convener, Gujarat BJP IT cell.
"While we had a lot of teachers and students who had Internet connections at home doing the job for us, now we would like to take a step ahead and fortify this area," he added.
The Gujarat BJP recently had an IT workshop for the district level functionaries and the party is reported to have already created about 160 e-mail ids for them. "We evaluated how the e-campaign fared in the last two assembly elections and then also deliberated upon the track we should take for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections," Yadav said.
The concept of cyber campaign had fallen flat after the BJP's Lok Sabha debacle in 2004, when the then chief party strategist Pramod Mahajan's high profile campaign had fizzled out.
"The time has changed and young India is far more net savvy now," Yadav said, adding: "So, the fear around the idea of cyber campaign that was generated after 2004 Lok Sabha polls has been effectively dispelled after the electoral success of the party in Gujarat and Karnataka."
The cell is also geared up to play a more important role in the coming general elections. "During the assembly elections, we had people from other parts of the country getting in touch with us through our websites. However, such connections could not be translated into direct voting for the party, which will now be possible in the Lok Sabha polls," Yadav said.
He went on to say that Internet has incredibly extended the party's reach, and "with over four crore people using cellphone to surf Internet, the potential is only increasing".
The BJP will organise a series of workshops to empower its members and strengthen its infrastructure at the district levels, he added.
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