NEW DELHI: Over a month of freeze on political activities and its continued prospects in near future have begun to raise concern in the Congress , with urgent calls that the party devise alternative ways to conduct normal functioning that are in conformity with the demands of social distancing.The worry appears to stem from the obvious advantage that the ruling BJP enjoys over the opposition in terms of political communication.Former Union minister and member of the Congress Working Committee Jitin Prasada said lockdown will be lifted sooner or later but things will not return to normal in the foreseeable future and political routine like holding face to face interaction with workers and public meetings will be very difficult.“Lockdown or no lockdown, social distancing is here to stay and its norms will have to be adhered to for a long time to come. But it does not mean that our activities should also cease. Life has to continue and we have to strategise accordingly. Our connect and two-way communication with cadre, which is participative and engaging, and with people at large, has to be ensured. I am of the view that we have to think on these lines. The sooner we do, the better,” Prasada told TOI.As an alternative, the young leader said Congress will have to ramp up its digital communication which includes social media, YouTube channels and web portals.“There may be a situation that a party has to conduct its campaign and messaging on digital platforms only,” he warned.As lockdown has forced everything indoors, the opposition camp appears to find itself nudged out of the frame while ruling parties have the advantage of political communication by governments – which benefits the BJP at the Centre and BJP and regional parties in states. Post-2014, Congress has a light footprint nationally.Calling for immediate remedial measures, Prasada said Congress should move into digital sphere in regional languages and official AICC apps like Shakti for feedback from party workers will be of big help.He said Congress should also “decentralise” its social media platform so that it can cater to regions and states.“We are with the government in fighting coronavirus , but the government has a natural advantage (of visibility). Where is the official platform for opposition or divergent views or other ideas? The scope for opposition is very limited,” he lamented.