As candidates tirelessly navigate dusty streets to attach with voters, a choose group of behind the scenes strategists have emerged because the true powerhouses of their campaigns in Maharashtra. With over 82 crore lively web customers in India, social media has change into a key battleground for political campaigns.
Conscious of its significance, political events throughout the spectrum have arrange “battle rooms”. These hubs are the place groups work across the clock, leveraging social media and knowledge analytics to form grassroots methods and guarantee their candidates keep forward within the digital race.
“In addition to sales space monitoring, our group creates, approves and posts content material on our candidate’s official social media channels. We keep away from criticising rivals, as an alternative specializing in highlighting our achievements,” stated Alpesh Kadam, BJP’s cooperative cell president for Thane metropolis.
Figuring out of an area battle room in Thane, Kadam leads a group of 9 “tremendous warriors”—social gathering volunteers who handle each social media and on-ground actions within the 9 prabhags (divisions) beneath the Thane constituency. As well as, 5 members are devoted solely to managing Thane’s BJP candidate’s social media accounts.
Comparable battle rooms exist for each BJP candidate within the state, with every constituency internet hosting a devoted group. “We’ve got a robust social media group on the state degree, however every candidate additionally has their very own battle room, run with native social gathering assist. Content material is posted on to candidates’ handles, all the time aligned with social gathering ideas,” a BJP spokesperson stated.
The social media wing on the state degree displays media portals, tracks opposition content material, and revisits archival knowledge, producing posters, articles, and different materials for social media. As soon as authorised by the social gathering management, the content material is shared throughout platforms.
Along with social media, the BJP additionally makes use of robocalls, SMS and WhatsApp for its outreach. For Congress, the idea of a “battle room” takes a special form. Whereas particular person candidates have their very own “media departments”, the social gathering has established regional battle rooms in areas like Western Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Mumbai.
Earlier this 12 months, Congress introduced in former MLA Vamshi Reddy who arrange battle rooms in key metro cities. These work carefully with the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, Mumbai Congress Committee, and AICC. Every battle room is staffed with 15-20 folks, together with a analysis group.
“Our battle rooms monitor macro points throughout the state, collect knowledge, and create content material for social media. For instance, we rapidly shared content material when our manifesto was launched,” stated Nadeem Nusrath, Basic Secretary of Mumbai Congress. “Our objective is to ship the message swiftly and counter false narratives by sticking to info.” After the elections, Congress plans to dissolve these battle rooms and redirect groups to new assignments.
In the meantime, the NCP(SP) has arrange almost 86 battle rooms throughout Maharashtra, every devoted to the constituencies their candidates are contesting. The central battle room, primarily based in Mumbai, coordinates with these regional groups.
“These battle rooms work across the clock, monitoring points statewide and making certain most attain through social media platforms like Instagram, Fb, and X (previously Twitter),” stated Clyde Crasto, nationwide spokesperson for NCP(SP). “If there’s a rally, we dwell stream speeches to attach instantly with the general public.”
Shiv Sena additionally maintains a devoted battle room that creates content material for social media. To decentralise, most candidates have their very own particular person channels as properly. Along with social gathering employees, the Sena enlists exterior companies for technical duties.
“Our battle room’s fundamental objective is to spotlight our improvement initiatives and welfare schemes, utilizing clips from the CM’s speeches,” a Shiv Sena supply stated.
