General Elections 2009: Online Lobbying Comes of Age

By Preethi J on Mar 5th, 2009 |

5 Comments

Internet campaigns and news sites are mushrooming across the Internet prior to the General Elections 2009. Whether it is an attempt to superficially duplicate Barack Obama’s successful online campaigning or if it really signals a change in the mindset of our politicos who now want to connect with the young, literate and Internet-savvy generation, we do not know yet. Here are a few interesting launches focussed on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections:

News Sites

CNN-IBN has launched a news site IBNPolitics.com to provide updates during elections and encourage live blogs and chats on the election. The site has some news in Hindi as well.

The press information bureau has launched a micro site for the benefit of journalists covering the general elections this year.

CNN-IBN had organised a blog contest after the Gujarat assembly elections in 2007, inviting opinions on Narendra Modi. It recorded over 1000 participants, according to this report.

Communities

- Times of India, in partnership with Wadanatodo, Radio Mirchi and public interest campaign NoCriminals, has launched Lead India ’09. The site features blogs, communities and contests based on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Times Internet‘s social networking site iTimes, still in Beta, is the brand partner for Lead India ’09.

- VoteIndia.in is a website that helps voters make an informed choice by e-mailing them information on politicians’ qualifications, work, track record and criminal background. The site owners have also uploaded videos on Youtube – the English video is here and the Hindi one here.

- Jaago Re! features information on voting, issues, blogs, election news, videos and downloads to encourage citizens to shake away their apathy towards the political system and vote. Initially established by Tata Tea, the site is now backed by Pranthakatha, Pria, Radio One, Yahoo India and Mid-Day. The site has launched a campaign in partnership with NGO Janaagraha to drive awareness on voting.

- Election news will also come via microbloggers on Twitter, which was used by thousands to track and report on Barack Obama’s progress as a presidential candidate. It looks like the Twitter comminity has selected the hastag #IndiaVotes for everyone to use, so you can track it here.

Politicians Go Online

LK Advani‘s campaign went online this year, with banner ads advertising his site and blog. His website, launched November, and the blog, launched in January, together draw 60,000 unique visitors daily, according to Mint. His online campaign was through India. EZCampaigns.com a site that allows politicians to upload their ad campaigns and even offers a Money Back guarantee! It also created Chandrababu Naidu‘s website. Considering that there are only 5.65 million broadband subscribers in India, such a strategy will not make a sea change when votes are counted. So what is the reason behind their Internet presences? And, ofcourse, who wants to bet that the blogs will be abandoned once the election ends.

Will the Congress follow the move by BJP onto the world wide web? Maybe Rahul Gandhi ought to get a website. Remember ex-president APJ Kalam’s website, and his powerpoint presentations?

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Category : Indiatimes (Times Internet Ltd) | Tags : bjp, chandrababu naidu, cnn-ibn, congress, general elections 2009, ibnpolitics.com, India, jaago re, leadindia '09, lk advani, Lok Sabha, Politics, rahul gandhi, Twitter

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Rajesh R K

Do you mean lobbying or campaigning? Lobbying in the purest sense of the word – is something different from a bunch of people taking to the net trying to recreate Obama. Or guys trying to milk the elections for all its worth.
http://www.Google.com Chaitali Das

Is Projecting Rahul as future PM of India a Shock or Humiliation to the Experienced & Veteran Congress leaders? If the Senior & seasoned Congressmen ask Why Rahul? Will he be sacked? Is it a Congress party or Gandhi Party? Is it a National Party or a Family Party ? Why the Indians would be obliged to ensure Jobs for the Gandhi family? What is contribution of SONIA, RAHUl & Priyanka in Indian Polity? They are Born and brought up outside India. Their emotions , sentiments and cultures are unlike Indians.

Indian by Birth is not intrinsically equivalent to Indian by Marriage.
Subramani

Online lobbying has not been very effective in this election. However a start has been done which should go on to reach even the people in the villages. As per the vision of Dr. Kalam even villages should have access to internet and if that dream comes true , the online lobbying will be effective. We cannot compare what has been done by Obama in US as in US everything is online and the reach is unimaginable which is just not possible in our country with illiteracy & backwardness still looming large. May be in the next century we may reach that level if politicians really work for it.
Subramani

Regarding the cabinet that has been sworn in under Dr. MMSingh is fairly acceptable. However, he has to be careful in including the members of his alliance partners like DMK and others. He has to choose MPs of clean record & performance for heading different ministries and should not succumb to pressures to stay in power as it will be detremental not only for his party but to the nation at large. Only MPs of integrity, honesty, dedication & devotion to duty should find berth who can only ensure clean and effective governance and progress in the prescribed lines. Beware your performance is being watched by all.
Deepak

Regarding Portfolio allocation Congress should decide on its own. They have no business to consult with Father of Corruption karunanidhi. Congress won the election because the people of India have strong faith on Sonia and Manmohan Singh. It will be very shame for our Government if Raja and Balu are allocated any ministerial berth. As for us people of India's concerned No portfolio should be given to Karunanidhi parties. If congress had not allied with DMK, it could have secured more seats and it will stand on its own. The Congress could easily won tleast 300 seats if they have broken the ties with Corrupted DMK. Our PM should be given free hand to function, otherwise he cannot function properly, finally DMK should not be given any ministerial berth.

General Elections 2009: Online Lobbying Comes of Age

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