BJP realises limitations of virtual world

New Delhi: BJP was quick to turn to online communications both within the party and for public outreach when Covid-19 hit the country. But now, about four months on, the party feels the need to improve public connect in election-bound states such as Bihar and MP. Hence it is planning to balance virtual and real contact programmes on the ground.
“While talking in a virtual meeting, sometimes party workers hesitate to share their thoughts, which they would have otherwise shared,” a senior BJP leader from Bihar told ET. “In personal meetings, they feel proximity and speak out openly.”

On June 7, Union home minister Amit Shah did the first Bihar Samvad virtual rally, which was followed by a series of such rallies across the country to highlight the achievements of one year of the Narendra Modi government. In Bihar, the BJP leadership is doing 3-4 such rallies every day and trying to cover all the 243 assembly constituencies. Its initial experience shows that while the party has been able to remain connected to its worker base, the virtual medium has its limitations, said party members.

On July 5, BJP general secretary in-charge of Bihar, Bhupender Yadav came back to Delhi from Patna, only to leave again the next day. Yadav decided to chair the meetings of the BJP’s district core groups in person in Patna. In the past two days he has chaired meetings of 11 district core groups. Five to 10 key people from each district are being called to Patna and meetings are being conducted while maintaining social distancing, according to party members.

They said such meetings will be conducted in the coming days, even as virtual rallies will continue to be part of campaign plans. BJP is emphasising on large-scale ‘jan sampark’ (public connect) with small groups of up to 10 leaders visiting households in particular areas.

In MP, where bypolls are scheduled for 24 assembly seats, virtual rallies in each constituency began last week. The party is working on a twin strategy, whereby senior leaders such as CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, state BJP chief VD Sharma and Rajya Sabha MP Jyotiraditya Scindia are doing 2-3 virtual rallies in the first phase. On the other hand, state ministers and candidates are doing small meetings.