Online battles flare up as by-election nears

Alappuzha: The high-pitched Chengannur by-election campaign has gone digital.  The rival fronts  have come up with official websites to take advantage of the fact that Kerala is the first digital state--the  tag it earned in  2016 on account of its 30 million mobile connections for a population of 33 million. LDF’s Saji Cheriyan became the latest candidate to  open an official website which updates his electioneering details and  political responses.  NDA’s P.S. Sreedharan Pillai  launched a website named after ‘namukkummaraam’.  Twitter and Facebook accounts are available in the name of UDF candidate D. Vijayakumar.

The website of  Rajiv Pallathu of  Aam Aadmi Party explains his manifesto on the development of Chengannur constituency.       

Saji Cheriyan’s website inaugurated by M.V. Govindan, central committee member, on Wednesday, gives information on his campaign schedules,  campaign leaders  and development agenda apart from his detailed profile.

The  ‘Namukkummaram’ website of  Mr Pillai focus on the interaction with voters on various issues in the constituency. For instance, it initiated  discussions under the titles: “Needed urgent attention on drinking water problem of Mulakkuzha panchayath” and  “Need permanent solution for traffic block in Chengannur."  

The website calls upon the voters to engage in discussions for a change.        
Vidya Nair, campaign manager, New Media, UDF, said that though they had not  opened an exclusive website,   campaign was active on the social media platforms.

They are planning to open a website to establish a counter narrative.   
 Dozens of campaign squads have been  focusing on local-level conventions and door-to-door campaigns. Many ministers have already joined in  ward-level family meets. The  candidates also go to  wedding houses, institutions and bereaved families seeking  votes.

Irfan Ibrahim Sait, New Media head, LDF, said that the website could  provide   accurate information to the people. For instance,  it can provide the location details of the candidates with the support of Google map. Many expatriates from Chengannur are active in cyber world. “They have access to web-based information. They may not be voters in Chengannur but as the breadwinners of their families, they will have a decisive say in the votes of their family members,’’ he said.

K. Soman, district president, BJP said that they had created a website  to collect the response of the people of Chengannur spread across the globe. “Based on the information,   we will release the development agenda for Chengannur soon,” he said.  
 “We miss many youngsters during  door-to-door campaigns. So websites are effective in getting in touch with them,” he said.