Post-jallikattu, Tamil Nadu seems to have understood the power of social media when it comes to mobilising public opinion — a political faction trying to rally behind an 'outgoing' Chief Minister is no exception.
Seeking to turn the political tide in favour of O. Panneerselvam, who was sacked as AIADMK treasurer on Tuesday, the party's former IT wing joint secretary Satyan Rajan has taken to social media to garner public opinion.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, he shared the telephone numbers of as many as 132 AIADMK MLAs, along with their names and constituencies, requesting people to contact them and register their support for Mr. Panneerselvam, if they feel his decision is right.
“It (social media) is a platform for people's voices to be heard,” Mr. Rajan told The Hindu .
“In a short time, we have to seek public opinion. Thus, we took the help of technology.”
Mr. Rajan claimed that the link he had created had crossed more than 5 lakh engagements in less than three hours.
“Some of us, pushed by our conscience, have taken the decision to back the Chief Minister. But we don't represent the entire IT wing of the AIADMK — both former and present,” Mr. Rajan insisted.
When The Hindu contacted Kattumannarkoil MLA N. Murugumaran, he said: “Yes, I have been getting messages since morning, but I won't reveal any further details.”
But other MLAs like Kasthuri Vasu of Valparai and Pounraj of Poompuhar said they had not received any calls in this regard.
New media front
The party’s former IT wing secretary, ‘Aspire’ K. Swaminathan, said that Mr. Panneerselvam was very keen on the new media front. “
He is going to anyway visit people in person. This will help him understand people's feelings.”
“This is just a start,” Mr. Swaminathan said, adding, “I worked with OPS sir for four elections, and he recognises true potential. Some of us believe that someone who has the support of both the people and the party should be the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, so we will work hard towards achieving it.”
Things were hectic on the IT front on Wednesday, with the party's IT wing secretary Singai G. Ramachandran being sacked and removed from primary membership of the party after he had tweeted in support of Mr. Panneerselvam.
