TURA: If there is anything that excites India, it is elections. Be it panchayat, assembly or parliamentary, testosterone level runs high. Garo Hills, nestled amidst the blue sways and the green elms, which enjoys the distinction of giving the state its first chief minister and its present, and a couple of others in-between, is likewise gripped by the electoral fever.
And the bard’s words ‘Times, they are a changing’ seem to ring true for this region as political parties take to technology, the armour of the 21st century to woo and impress the electorate.
Adding to the jamboree are the music videos singing paeans to the place, concerned political parties and their candidates.
This is an election campaign like never before as conventional campaign ruses give way to sleek technological gigs where the likes of ‘Facebook’ and ‘WhatsApp’ are a runaway success for most young voters.
The old school of campaign such as the style of ‘Wine and Dine’ is still alive in rural areas, although in less numbers. Supporters and well-wishers still continue to visit aspiring leaders and contenders but not like the good old days.
This election is about who has the highest number of likes and tags and each party and candidate is pulling out all stops to prove a point to one another.
All three major contenders in this election – the Congress, the National People’s Party (NPP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – have swarmed the countryside with their colorful musical videos promising the moon.
Issues of development or rather lack of it are some of the key elements in the videos produced by the parties and candidates.
In the triangular contest to win over the airwaves, the BJP has roped in legendary singer and songwriter from Shillong, Lou Majaw of the famous Great Society band.
The colourful BJP music video speaks about the winds of change blowing across the state and questions their opponents accusing them of failed promises.
To ensure that the party agenda percolates to every nook and corner, the BJP has come out with versions in the languages of the three major tribes in the state.
The Congress is not far behind in countering the BJP’s allegations with songs highlighting the work done by the Mukul Sangma-led government.
The chief minister also has a separate Facebook page where daily updates of events and campaigns along with words of support from well-wishers flood his account.
Pictures of campaign rallies with mammoth crowds in the background are a favourite with politicians on the social media front. So too are greeting voters in rural areas dressed in traditional attire to woo as many as one can before polling day.
The NPP’s Conrad K Sangma is among the favourites on the social media site where a team of social media brand managers keep the pot churning with campaign speeches, pictures and videos that are quickly lapped up by Sangma’s supporters.
The party ensures that its founder leader and the biggest vote catcher, late PA Sangma, finds a place at the top of the social media page with a smiling picture of his.
There are individual candidates too who are also upping the ante as far as social media coverage is concerned. Each candidate uploads photos of his meetings where he raises local issues concerning the constituency with the hope of connecting with the voter before D-Day.
It remains to be seen how much impact it will make when voters head to the polling stations on February 27.
