We have seen in previous article that TDP is lagging in social media compared to YSRCP and Janasena even though it enjoys good strength in mainstream media.
In this article we’ll see how YSRCP and Janasena faring in social media.
YSRCP:
YSRCP didn’t have much support in social media before 2014 elections. That is mainly because urban voters of united Andhra Pradesh believed the feed that mainstream media like Eenadu and TV9 provided to Telugu people regarding corruption cases on Jagan. But gradually YSRCP’s strength in social media increased as anti-incumbency started on ruling party. This is understandable, as any ruling party will start facing anti-incumbency after the cooling off period of first one year rule. Moreover, as YSRCP is the only opposition party, all the anti-government content in social media credited to YSRCP. Some achievement as well as failures of YSRCP as below.
- YSRCP social media wings were successful in labelling Lokesh as Pappu of Andhra Pradesh. This did lot of damage silently to not only Lokesh’s image but also to the party.
- YSRCP social media was successful in convincing people that mainstream media is pro-TDP. The word “Yellow media” was coined and publicized by YSRCP social media platforms (of course, along with Sakshi). To be frank, now many people in AP believe that many channels that pose as neutral also support TDP and part of yellow media.
- YSRCP social media was active in publishing the news that mainstream media ignored. YSRCP Social media wing was successful in revealing the emptiness of various schemes of TDP that were praised by mainstream media.
However, YSRCP social media also had it’s own downfalls:
- During Nandyala by polls, social media was overwhelming with videos and articles supporting YSR CP. Some analysts attributed this to strategist Prashant Kishore. But during Nandyal by polls, everyday tens of videos added in support of YSRCP and predicting massive victory for YSRCP. Many thought YSRCP is trying to manipulate social media voice.
- Recently Jagan’s personal comments on Pawan drew ire of Pawan fans and netizens in social media and the volume of trolls surprised many and it busted the myth that YSRCP is the strongest in social media.
Janasena
Janasena was the first Telugu party to recognize strength of social media and it officially launched social media wing Shatagni. It was first party to recruit content writers for party’s social media wing. Some of the achievements of Janasena Social media platforms.
- When Kathi Mahesh or Sri Reddy targeted Pawan and there was no media supporting Pawan at that time, it was his fans and social media platforms pro-Janasena that fought against this character assassination.
- The fact that there was no media support at that time got PK and Janasena sympathy and his fans battled through social media against any attempt to tear-off his party.
- Right from 2014, PK fans were creating content in support of Pawan. Be it Uddanam issue, or any other issues he took up, his fans voluntarily brought out volumes of information regarding those issues and shared it through social media.
- In April 2018, after Pawan waged war with mainstream media and many news channels sidelined his news, people started checking Pawan’s twitter account for the updates. For couple of days (Click here for : After Tweet war, Pawan’s twitter profile grows leaps and bounds ), Pawan’s twitter account grown faster than Modi’s and Kohli’s accounts.
- Currently Shatagni, social media wing of Janasena, is very active in sharing the news of Janasena compared to social media wings of other Telugu parties
But social media strength may not necessarily equate to the overall strength of the party and it may not reflect in the votes also. But it definitely has the ability to “slightly” influence the mindset of voter.
We’ll have to wait and see how this social media strength will help the parties in 2019 elections.
-ZURAN (@CriticZuran)
