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A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA in Madhya Pradesh has triggered a row after proposing that social media presence will determine party appointments at the
grassroots level. Mahendra Singh Yadav, the BJP MLA from Kolaras in Shivpuri district, reportedly said that under a "digital report card" system, party workers seeking organisational posts would need to meet minimum social media benchmarks. Under the proposal, Yadav said that a Mandal president must have at least 25,000 followers on social media platforms, while a booth president should have a minimum of 1,000 followers. Party workers who fail to maintain their digital reach could also risk losing their positions, he warned.
Growing Reach Of Social Media
The move reflects the growing importance of social media in Indian politics, where platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube have become critical tools for voter outreach, particularly among Gen Z and first-time voters.
Political parties across the spectrum have increasingly relied on short-form videos, reels and influencer-style campaigns to spread their message and mobilise supporters.
Of late, there has been a sharp rise in the use of social media platforms by political leaders and parties to connect with the Gen-Z.
A Local Experiment?
The proposal has generated discussion within political circles about whether it is a constituency-level experiment or could eventually be adopted more widely within the BJP's Madhya Pradesh unit.
The BJP currently governs the state under Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and has a strong organisational network extending from state leadership to booth-level workers.
Political observers note that social media metrics are increasingly being viewed as indicators of a leader's public reach and mobilisation capacity.
However, critics argue that follower counts do not always translate into ground-level political influence and can sometimes be artificially inflated.
The development also comes as political parties prepare for future electoral battles in Madhya Pradesh.
The Congress, too, has been focusing on strengthening its grassroots structure through campaigns such as "Gaon Chalo-Booth Chalo", aimed at expanding its presence at the village and booth levels.
(With bureau inputs)
