Goemkarponn desk
DHIRAJ HARMALKAR
MARGAO: “Social Media” seems to have played a crucial role during the 2022 Assembly election campaigning of every candidate who wanted to reach out to all constituents from their constituencies.
Goa state recently witnessed the third wave of Covid19. Considering that the elections are around the corner and campaigning with many people might escalate the spread of infection and Covid19 cases in the state, the election commission put some restrictions limiting the number of campaigners.
But these restrictions did not deter the candidates’ enthusiasm or their supporters.
In the age of Digital India and high-tech internet connectivity, candidates and the National political parties restored to make optimum use of social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp etc.
Aditya, a former Social media handler of a renowned daily, informed that ” in the age of WhatsApp and Facebook, one person could join thousands of people through his or her social media profile to send a message and do promotion. This is what the candidates have understood and are doing it.
Another candidate from Mormugao said that the audiovisual information will have a better reach out and better impression on the people who could see their candidate’s works and the message their candidate wants to deliver to their voters.
In the Margao area, we see famous Tiatrists like Prince Jacob, who is seen promoting Goa Forward Party candidate Vijay Sardessai via social media video, citing the works done by Sardessai. On the other hand, BJP is not behind; a Konkani song has been recorded named “Amcho Damu” based on a Bollywood video song asking people to vote for Damu Naik and elect him in Fatorda.
Similarly, in Margao, too, BJP vans are moving with a song on Babu Azgaonkar. On social media platforms, Azgaonkar is being promoted by the BJP.
In Mormugao taluka, too, the politicians are not behind in fetching the benefits of social media platforms. Mormugao BJP candidate Milind Naik’s video on developmental works asks people to vote for BJP. The supporters of Congress candidate Sankalp Amonkar are also using Facebook, WhatsApp etc., platforms to circulate Amonkar’s manifesto, works and messages promoting Sankalp.
AAP also circulated a video for their candidate Parshuram Sonurlekar wherein Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is taking Sonurlekar’s name and asking him to work for people.
Door to door campaign video with background song is also being released by Sonurlekar on social media platforms which looks convincing.
In Vasco, some professional singers have sung for BJP Vasco Candidate Daji Salkar, demanding that voters elect Daji to power, and the song also focuses on his vision for 2022.
In Dabolim, where the fight is tough between Congress candidate Captain Viriato Fernandes, BJP’s Mauvin Godinho and AAP candidate Premanand (Babu) Nanoskar, all of them have used social media platforms very well in circulating their vision plan, manifestos, public meetings depicting the support of the people during campaigning.
Godinho was also seen playing football and cricket with kids and meeting people in a social media video. NCPs Jose Philip D’Souza has also seemed to go social through Facebook and WhatsApp with his photographs getting circulated. DSouza campaigning among his voters.
Cortalim’s Congress candidate Olencio Simoes, AAPs Alina Saldhana, BJPs Narayan Naik, and others are using these social media to reach out to first-time voters and people.
The benefits of the social media platforms have been proven since common people tend to get the direct message of the candidates what they have to say through this media.