SP Chief's Pre-Election Social Media Strategy
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has issued a crucial appeal to folk artists and media personnel, requesting them not to associate him or his party with every viral folk song or social media reel. This strategic move comes as political parties in Uttar Pradesh begin groundwork for the crucial 2027 assembly elections.
Learning from RJD's Electoral Experience
The SP chief's concern stems directly from the recent Bihar election experience where the Rashtriya Janata Dal faced significant electoral damage due to offensive Bhojpuri songs circulating on social media platforms. Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow on Saturday, Yadav explicitly referenced the Bihar scenario while making his appeal.
"I will urge the artists and singers - don't make songs like the ones made for RJD in Bihar," Akhilesh stated clearly. "I will appeal to the media not to associate any and every song with us."
The Bihar Precedent and Political Consequences
The context behind Akhilesh Yadav's caution becomes clear when examining what transpired in Bihar. The RJD has taken legal action against creators of 32 music videos featuring 12 Bhojpuri singers and other local dialect artists. These videos were released using the party's name and featuring its leaders including Tejashwi Yadav without proper permission.
The consequences were severe for RJD's electoral prospects. The party's seat tally dramatically slumped to just 25 seats in the Bihar assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi effectively used the content from these viral songs during his election rallies, particularly highlighting one song's lyrics "Marab sixer ke chhah goli chhati mein" (I'll shoot six bullets in your chest like a sixer) to remind voters of the lawlessness during previous RJD governance.
Akhilesh Yadav, who actively participated in the Bihar elections by addressing 25 public meetings across 12 districts for the INDIA bloc, witnessed firsthand how social media content can influence voter perception. His current appeal indicates that opposition parties are increasingly viewing social media as a dependable option to connect with their vote banks, while also recognizing its potential pitfalls when content goes uncontrolled.
The timing of this appeal is significant as it comes when political parties in India's most populous state have started their preliminary work for the next assembly elections, understanding that social media will play a decisive role in shaping political narratives and influencing voter decisions.
