BJP, Cong cast their net wide with Internet, toll-free numbers

The campaign for Assembly elections scheduled later this year is going to be a hi-tech affair with major political parties like BJP and Congress planning to use information and communication technology to reach out to maximum number of voters.

BJP has already announced a dedicated cellphone number 8000980009 where people can connect with Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Anybody making a missed call on this number or sending SMS NaMo4Guj on another number 54242 will receive regular updates about the state BJP and its election programmes. The number will be activated after about a month-and-a-half when the elections draw closer.

Rajeekaben T Kacheria, who is in-charge of state BJP's IT cell, says people are busy in this era but still want to keep themselves abreast of political developments. With this arrangement, he says, the party would be able to connect with the maximum number of people and inform them about the political programmes, particularly of CM, who has a very large following.

Besides, Modi, who is known to be addressing audiences as far as US through video-conferencing, would also address about 20 Garib Kalyan Melas through video-conferencing in the next few days. On August 31, he will interact online with people by using Google+Hangout. Those who want to interact live with him or ask any questions could post their queries on his blog by August 27 midnight.

The Congress too has launched a website(www.gujaratcongress.org), a toll-free phone number (180020055520) and an email ID or what is called helpline(helpline@Gujaratcongress.org) to receive feedback from people. It also has a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/helplinegujaratcongress).

State Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi claims that every month, his party receives about 10,000 to 15,000 complaints against the state government and suggestions from people across the state and non-resident Gujaratis.

Former CM Keshubhai Patel, who quit BJP recently and floated his Gujarat Parivartan Party, has started a blogsite www.excmkeshubhaipatel.blogspot.in to interact with the people. Sources close to Patel said his party would soon float a website and launch a Facebook page as well once the party is registered. The party's registration process is already on.

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