Netagiri and Blogging!

The internet is really booming. The biggest advantage with the net is that it reaches a wide spectrum of people, many being potential customers. So the modern age netas thought why they should be lagging behind, in fact if internet will help them connect to more masses, then they possibly get a chance to entice their vote bank which is always going to benefit them.

Consequently many politicians have started the trend of connecting with the citizens online. Talk about netas joining the net and you see a cluster of their official websites and blogs there.

Although there are a vast number of blogs written by other bloggers about political campaigns, leaders and parties, it is better that the politicians themselves start a blog because a blog is like a personal diary. According to net gurus, it is essential for politicians and parties to make the optimum use of the net, especially when it comes to blogging because of certain key reasons that will help them in various ways. The prime aspect of course is to reach out to the masses, more importantly their vote bank. They can potentially launch their political campaign. But the other biggest benefit is that internet being an interactive medium will give the politicians to change the negative perception that many have against them. Through blogs, they can get into an open debate with their detractors. And there is a good chance that through such interactions they can clear the doubts and criticism.

In a press conference or a convention, there are many people and you might not get to ask a question in the first place and even if you do, you might not get a complete answer as there are many others in the line waiting to ask further questions.

Blogging also helps in creating party funds, although there are very few people who would pay them, after all nobody trusts them! But that is more or less limited only to India and the Europe. In America, when Prez Obama was campaigning, he raised a record-breaking $600 million in contributions from more than three million people, many of whom donated through the web. It’s all about using the medium effectively.

Since most people who blog and use blogs are below the age of 40, it is a potent medium to target young voters, who otherwise would not be interested in politics. Party workers and local politicians can start their blogs to gain a better popularity.

Sarah Palin, the former contender for the U.S. Vice President-ship has her blog called http://sarahpalin.typepad.com/,  where she discusses everything from politics to her rivals to her family and everything that she wants to talk about. Her blog has helped her fight criticism that most news channels and rivals created.

And if you think that it’s only the netas from the west who write blogs, then think again. Our very own desi neta, former BJP PM Candidate, L.K.Advani has his own blog- http://blog.lkadvani.in/. It has versions in Hindi and English. Apart from politics, he also discusses tennis, foreign policy, Information Technology and India in general. Thereby, he did try hard to not just create a vote bank but also change his own and the party image of being hardliners. It came across many bloggers that Mr. Advani is not someone that he is perceived to be by the media. I must say Mr. Advani, smartly done!

Not just the biggies, but also young, new politicians from India are accentuating their presence through their blogs, so that they get a strong local following.

If Advaniji being a veteran can write blogs and keep up with time, I would only be surprised if our young MPs and MLAs cannot find time or reason to start a blog. Come on people be smart and trendy!