BJP brainstorms how to reach out to youth through social media

New Delhi: In a bid to tap the huge number of urban youth, including first time voters, BJP on Friday held a workshop for technocrats and functionaries associated with the party to chalk out a strategy for reaching out to them through digital, mobile, Internet and social media. BJP, which is already in election mode since the appointment of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its Election Campaign Committee chief, today brainstormed on how to influence the young voters in a meeting of the Information Communication Campaign Committee. [caption id=“attachment_989777” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image for representation only. AFP[/caption] Three hundred delegates from 21 states and three union territories took part in the discussions today on how to make effective use of technology and plan out ways to expand the reach of the party and its leadership on various social media platforms. “We realise that you cannot win polls only by reaching out to people through social media but this is definitely a tool which can help in the process. The use of digital, mobile and Internet technology will also help us build an atmosphere in favour of the party,” a BJP leader said. He pointed out that the party is not abandoning the traditional ways of campaigning through rallies, meetings, door-to-door canvassing and so on in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. BJP will also use technology to further project Modi, especially among the young who have a strong presence on social media sites. Modi already has an impressive presence on Twitter and Google+. Sixty-five per cent of the population is said to be below 35 years and is active on mobile, Internet and the digital world. “The theme of today’s meeting was to seek feedback from all over the country to draw up its strategy to achieve Mission 272+,” the party said in a statement. 272 is the mid-way mark in the Lok Sabha which has a total strength of 545 members. BJP plans to create a volunteer force that will reach out to unregistered young voters and assist them to register and participate in the elections. “A robust training program and a volunteer toolkit will be rolled out in the coming days,” BJP said. Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, who delivered the inaugural address, expressed confidence that BJP will replace the UPA dispensation. PTI