BELAGAVI: The countdown for the voting day has begun. Along with traditional campaigning, the candidates in Belagavi district have already started thronging social media platforms. Many candidates have given their social media handles to agencies to reach more voters.
Major political part m ies are still busy announcing their candidates. As the voting day inches closer, new and old candidates of political parties and independent candidates are facing the challenge of completing publicity tasks within the specified time. Social media platforms are in tremendous demand.
Hence candidates are banking on digital campaigning in the Belagavi district. They have started campaigning through digital media using social network platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.
The candidates who are familiar to people in their constituencies have already been active on social media platforms for election publicity. Shashikala Jolle, the BJP candidate for Nipani segment, has her own IT cell to reach the public.
Party programmes, individual development works, social activities, photos and videos have been published on social media, both in Marathi and Kannada languages, as to reach people speaking both languages in the constituency. Jolle and her followers have been active on social media for years now.
Satish Jarkiholi, working president of KPCC and Congress candidate from Yamakanmaradi has established his own platform for campaigning through social media. He is using his own digital web media portal and Manava Bandhutva Vedike platform for election campaigns.
Ganesh Hukkeri, Congress candidate from Sadalga-Chikodi constituency, BJP candidate Abhay Patil for Belagavi South, BJP candidate Ramesh Jarkiholi from Gokak, Ramesh Katti, BJP candidate for Sadalaga Hukkeri, Laxmi Hebbalkar, Congress candidate for Belagavi Rural, Vishwas Vaidya, Congress candidate for Savadatti, Dr Ravi Patil, BJP candidate for Belagavi North and few others are in the front row, in utilising the social media platforms for election campaigning.
Photos and videos of political events, development works of parties, individual works, social services across the constituencies are being publicised through social media platforms.
In order to show their reach, the followers of parties and candidates are using still pictures, videos, and background music to give publicity to candidates on social media. “Nowadays, everyone uses smartphones. It is very convenient to reach voters via social media,” said Sudheer Patil, a citizen of Belagavi North.
“Both Congress and BJP are in the forefront of using social media platforms. However, the trend of using social media as a campaign platform started in Yamakanamardi and Belagavi South,” said Rohit S, a resident of Yamakanmardi in Hukkeri taluk.
Digital election campaign is not new to Belagavi. In the 2018 election, social media played a crucial role in electioneering. Once again, political parties gear up for election campaigning using these platforms with more extensive outreach.
