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In a strategic move ahead of the Bengal assembly elections, Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has called for an aggressive digital campaign to counter what he termed as BJP’s “misinformation” against the state.
Speaking at the ‘Ami Banglar Digital Joddha Conclave’ at Kolkata’s Milan Mela on Monday evening, Banerjee directed the party’s IT cell members to prepare an immediate 5-day action plan, followed by a comprehensive 100-110 day strategy. His message was clear: Trinamool cannot afford to surrender “even an inch of online space” to political opponents.
“It is easy to counter lies, but we have to tell people what the truth is,” Banerjee told the gathering of IT cell members, student leaders, and party functionaries. He set an ambitious target for the upcoming elections, stating, “In 2021, I said we had to get 214 seats. This time, we have to get 250 seats. I will ensure BJP goes below 50 seats. But for this, you will have to work systematically.”
Banerjee’s digital push comes amid heightened political tension in West Bengal, where the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP have been engaged in increasingly bitter confrontations. The Diamond Harbour MP alleged sustained discrimination against Bengal by the BJP-led central government, claiming funds were being deliberately withheld.
“Centre has held back Rs 680 crore of funds for every assembly constituency,” Banerjee claimed. “If we get the funds, we can do more development work. Go and tell the people about this discrimination.”
He urged party workers to highlight the state government’s welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar (financial assistance program for women), housing projects, and infrastructure development. “Post about the revolutionary development work done by state government. Find out the works done area-wise and how much funds were spent and let people know,” he instructed.
Banerjee also encouraged workers to collect testimonials from beneficiaries and conduct Facebook Live sessions to showcase ground-level impact of government initiatives. “Don’t bother about which neta is doing what. Use your presence of mind and use your phone,” he advised, emphasizing a grassroots approach to digital campaigning.
The Trinamool leader raised concerns about recent Enforcement Directorate searches at the offices of I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee), the political consultancy that has worked with the party. Banerjee questioned why similar actions weren’t taken at I-PAC offices in other states like Delhi and Hyderabad, suggesting political motivations behind the searches.
“I-PAC has 3 directors. The other two are based in Delhi and Hyderabad. Why were the offices there not searched? They (ED team) came here to steal information,” he alleged, implying targeted action against Bengal.
Despite his calls for an aggressive campaign, Banerjee cautioned party workers against using abusive language. “We will do everything in a rational way. We won’t belittle anybody,” he said, advocating for a measured approach to political discourse.
Political analysts note that this digital push reflects the evolving landscape of Indian electoral politics, where social media battlegrounds often shape public opinion alongside traditional campaigning. With platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and WhatsApp becoming critical for voter outreach, political parties are investing heavily in digital strategies.
The upcoming Bengal assembly elections are expected to be fiercely contested, with both Trinamool Congress and BJP employing sophisticated digital campaigns to reach voters. Banerjee’s directive for a structured digital strategy signals Trinamool’s recognition of online platforms as crucial electoral battlegrounds in modern Indian politics.
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10 Comments
The upcoming Bengal assembly elections promise to be closely watched, with both the Trinamool and BJP vying for digital dominance. Voters will hope for a substantive, issue-based campaign from all sides.
An interesting strategic move by the Trinamool Congress to counter alleged BJP misinformation. Strengthening their digital presence could help shape the narrative ahead of the upcoming elections.
It will be important for Trinamool to focus on facts and truth in their digital campaign, rather than just countering ‘lies’. Voters will want to hear substantive policy proposals.
Ambitious targets set by Abhishek Banerjee for the Trinamool Congress, aiming to win 250 seats and limit the BJP to under 50. A concerted digital strategy could help them achieve these goals.
However, the BJP is also known for its strong digital presence, so Trinamool will need to put in significant effort to gain an edge online.
Trinamool’s push to counter alleged BJP ‘misinformation’ online is an interesting tactic. Transparency and accountability should be the guiding principles for any political digital campaign.
It will be crucial for Trinamool to effectively utilize their digital platforms to reach and engage with voters, especially the youth. Thoughtful content and messaging will be key to swaying public opinion.
However, they must be wary of stooping to the same level of negativity and divisiveness that has plagued social media discourse in recent years.
The heightened political tension in West Bengal is concerning, with the ruling party and opposition engaging in bitter confrontations. A constructive digital campaign focused on issues rather than mud-slinging would be ideal.
Voters will appreciate a measured, fact-based approach from both sides that avoids further inflaming tensions.