

INDORE: Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan may be dominating party posters for the ensuing Assembly elections, but it is Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi who is giving Congress sleepless nights, at least on social media. Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) organized a social media workshop on Tuesday with theme 'Winning the digital battle' to contain Modi factor in Assembly election in social media.

NaMo phobia gripped the party to such an extent that in the workshop on assembly elections in MP held here on Tuesday, Congress state leaders kept on mentioning Modi's name in every sentence and Chouhan's name was missing.

MPCC president Kantilal Bhuria said, "Social media has become important in politics and Modi has his people in all cities of the country, including Madhya Pradesh and they are tarnishing image of party and Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in particular." Such negative campaigns against Congress can affect party in Assembly elections. As far as Chouhan is concerned, they will fight against him on ground. In virtual world, they have to contain Modi.

Sanjay Pathak, national convener of IT cell of Congress, said it seems that BJP is far ahead of Congress on social media and Modi, in particular, has virtually overtaken Congress leader on this media forum with the help of the agencies hired by him. "There is a general perception that BJP is ahead of Congress on social media. Now, we have to challenge the dominance of BJP, Modi, in particular, on the virtual world." He added that so far the Congress party has been defensive on social media, but now we have to be offensive. They are talking of Modi only because he is leading BJP's poll campaign on social media.

In charge of media and communication for assembly election and MP Premchand Guddu, said youths in and around city areas are using social media regularly and for them it is important medium for communication as well as information. "Social media has become important in politics and Modi is misusing it," he said, adding besides cornering the Shivraj government on corruption issue, the party will have to contain Modi on social networking sites.

Congress MP Sajjan Singh Verma urged his party workers to come forward and spend time on social media to expose false claims of BJP and Modi.

