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Web of political action

Photo: M. Moorthy

Opening new vistas Those in politics are in the know of the new generation pulse

For an urban middle-class voter like Trivedi, polls were a distant game. He has never participated in street protests or rallies. He never voted in elections. “I was under the impression that polls are for politicians.” But when the myth that whatever decisions taken, or not taken in national and state capitals, directly impacts the tenor and quality of life of citizens is busted, he turned to web to make well-informed choice.

“Unless all of us, especially middle-class voters take steps, get out and vote, we are not going to rectify our policies,” he adds. “As we are familiar with the web, we can find a lot of stuff and analysis to make the final call.”

Web with its speed and reach among urban middle class has become a platform for political activity. Websites, blogs, and comments have become so popular. The messages get spread quickly to the like-minded people. The rants are given their space.

It helps them make their choices better. It’s gotten a boost after seeing how Obama campaign harnessed web in fund raising and reaching out to people; younger generation especially.

Of course, web campaign complements old-fashioned door-to-door canvassing. Political activists, volunteers and youngsters seem to have taken a leaf out of that. “It’s always better to reach out to people through the medium they like and are familiar with,” says Kalyan B., a media watcher. Moreover, “not everybody gets an opportunity to be heard, I mean, you cannot stand on a podium and just launch yourself into a speech.”

Web gives this generation a medium through which they can make their voices heard. “Now with the activity on the web, politicians have to take into account youth’s aspirations too,” he adds.

Now that the youth has become a vocal demographic, any political candidate will have to reach them through the medium they like. “By adopting technology the youth are fascinated with and interacting through that the candidates can reach out more,” says Kapil, a youngster who is into reading opinions generated on economy. Moreover, “the stakes are higher this time, with job losses and uncertain economy which may shed more jobs,” he adds. With the help of technology, the youth are getting involved in political activity more.

Even older candidates are vying to be net-savvy and putting up their own websites. “Definitely, campaign posters, pamphlets reach out to people,” he adds. “But if you use web to spread around your message, you are in a way saying that you are in tune with the times.” And, the medium also taps into hitherto uninterested young, urban, middle-class voters.

With low internet reach among people, it’s no contest between real-world activity and that on web.

“You really cannot replace the face-to-face meetings and door-to-door calls,” says Rajneesh Kumar, a tech-savvy political volunteer. It has been “my own experience that when you meet somebody or a group and pitch your message, it works better.” Web campaigns certainly compliment the real-world campaigning. “What we are doing through the web campaign is trying to reach out people who spend time with their computers and who feel comfortable working with computers.” It’s better to meet people where they spend more time on a given day.

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