The Telangana Congress appears to be increasingly unnerved by the rising influence of the BRS social media team, which is emerging as a significant challenge for the ruling party. In an unusual statement, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy even warned BRS social media activists that they could face jail time if they persist in their sharp criticisms. This is a testament to the impact BRS party’s online presence is making across the political landscape.
Congress leaders, including ministers and MLAs, are reportedly unsettled as BRS social media activists continue to spotlight Congress government’s failures. In a startling display of frustration, former MLA Jagga Reddy went so far as to use offensive language and openly threatened BRS social media activists during a press conference.
In a related development, it has been reported that Congress’s National Social Media Chairperson, Supriya Shrinate, expressed dissatisfaction with Telangana Congress social media coordinators, Satish Manne and Naveen Pettem, over their failure to counter the BRS. Supriya, who recently attended a state Congress social media meeting at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad, stressed the need for immediate action.
“We are in power; funding is not an issue,” she reportedly told attendees. “If BRS social media is damaging the state government’s image, what exactly is our social media team doing?” Supriya expressed concern that Congress’s digital presence lagged significantly behind.
According to insiders, Congress plans to address these shortcomings by centralizing social media efforts from Delhi. A new digital agency based in Delhi is expected to be deployed, while a young Congress leader, actively engaged on social media, is rumored to be considered for a more prominent role in handling Telangana’s digital strategy.
Party sources indicate that the Congress social media team has faced criticism for entrusting social media responsibilities to individuals perceived as lacking loyalty to the party, some of whom previously aligned with parties like TDP. Original Congress loyalists feel overlooked, and this has reportedly affected the effectiveness of Congress’s online efforts. As a remedy, senior leaders announced incentives for the best-performing social media activists at the recent Congress social media meet.
In contrast, BRS’s social media has gained traction since becoming an opposition party. Unlike many political parties, the BRS social media team operates without support from external consultancies or digital agencies. A small, dedicated team oversees official accounts, while thousands of passionate Telangana supporters voluntarily contribute to exposing Congress’s alleged failures and questioning its unmet promises. The Congress party is so frustrated that they are filing false and trivial cases against BRS social media activists almost daily.
Though currently not organized at a grassroots level, BRS might establish local social media committees, which is expected to amplify its reach even further. This anticipated expansion could put Congress under additional pressure as the BRS party’s social media presence continues to gain momentum in Telangana.