With over one million likes on his personal
Facebook page and
Twitter handle, BJD supremo and
CM Naveen Patnaik
is one of the most
followed political
figures in the
country
Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is taking the social media by storm through several videos as part of the poll campaign every day. His videos of fitness and interaction with youth, roadshows in all the constituencies are proof that he is not leaving any stone unturned for the election.
With over one million likes on his personal Facebook page and on his Twitter handle, he is one of the most followed political figures in the country. Recently, he has come out with micro videos in which he is seen interacting with youths and discussing how the Centre is not giving Odisha its due on coal royalty. In the video, Patnaik is heard saying that seven of the 30 districts of Odisha still do not have rail connectivity despite Railways earning nearly Rs 20,000 crore revenue from the state.
His fitness video is also a big hit among the people and ostensibly has given him the image of an active chief minister. It is considered a fitting reply to skeptics of his health by political leaders.
Facing certain amount of anti-incumbency after holding 19 years of power, Patnaik is adopting innovative campaigns this election season to reach out to youth and build a conscious narrative that he is still the credible face for 4.5 crore Odias. In the roadshow in a hi-tech bus he is seen interacting with people and sloganeering for the BJD. His roadshows are drawing huge crowds everywhere. For example, his Sambalpur roadshow was a big hit.
About his sudden presence in the social media, Sriram Singh Rattan, a social media analyst, said Naveen Patnaik is a one-man army within the ruling BJD. His exercise video dispelled all fears of his ill health as he can be seen campaigning with full energy across the state day and night. Even premier media houses from Delhi are covering him and he has got various awards for his integrity and unblemished image. It’s safe to say that Odisha will again prosper under his able leadership, he added.
Kumar Aghna, a law student, said, “Naveen Patnaik, one of India’s longest serving chief ministers, is without doubt an astute and beloved leader. Like every famous personality, he has critics and fans. The current campaign is an example how the party depends on the CM.”
Political critic Pradeep Das said social media gives a politician an advantage of one-to-many conversations. Earlier, people used to prefer political campaigns based on personal desire but in this election political parties are serving their agenda and messages right in the hands of people via social media like Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp.
Prakash Singh Moharana, a senior citizen of the city, said, “The CM makes it a point to tweet on everything from festivals and current affairs to international happenings and political turns. His tweets are precise and engaging; hence most of his followers are youths.”