The polling date in Mumbai is approaching fast. The political parties have intensified their campaigning by holding public meetings and roadshows. But, an independent candidate from Mumbai’s North West constituency has a different way to approach voters. The independent candidate has decided to go paperless, and focus on social media.
According to the Hindustan Times, Aftab Khan, an independent candidate from Mumbai’s North West constituency, is urging voters to pay him Rs 1 online, so he can compare it with the number of votes he gets, to avoid “EVM glitches”. Instead of holding rallies and road shows, Khan is sending out WhatsApp messages and creating YouTube videos. On the other hand, heavyweights from the constituency, Congress’s Sanjay Nirupam, and Shiv Sena’s Gajanan Kirtikar are holding road shows and rallies.
“Social media is used by people from all walks of life. I don’t have the money to organise grand rallies and road shows. I had contested the 2009 polls from this constituency, where I had done door-to-door campaigning and received 560 votes. My daughter suggested I go for social media campaigns. Door-to-door campaigning is outdated. I am sending manifestos through WhatsApp,” Khan told the leading daily.
Khan has also said that money collected through his campaign will be given to EC and underprivileged children. The affidavit on assets submitted by Khan shows a flat worth Rs 80 lakh in an SRA building, Rs 5,000 in a bank account and gold worth Rs 12,000.
