Use social media well: SAD to cadre

Jalandhar: After facing heat from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in their 2014 parliamentary elections on social media, Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) is now gearing up its leadership at lower levels to focus on IT tools for connectivity and also giving them tips on how they should be using the medium while remaining offensive against the opposition. It has started holding meetings about effective use of social media at district levels.
A meeting of the Jalandhar district MLAs, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) members and in-charges of the different wings was held by education minister and SAD secretary Daljit Singh Cheema, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) general secretary and deputy chief minister's adviser Manjinder Singh Sirsa and deputy CM's officer on special duty (OSD) Charanjit Singh Brar.
Sources said that local MLAs and other office-bearers of the district unit of Akali Dal were told to complete the organizational structure and also prepare the database of phone numbers of party leaders and activists to the ground level.
"The MLAs and other leaders were told that they must be very active on social media and highlight the achievements of the government apart from attacking the opposition parties and their leaders at all levels," said a leader at the meeting.
"Our leaders should not feel defensive as they felt earlier but should put other parties in the dock as they need to explain a lot," remarked a leader in the meeting, adding, "You should be very active on social media and should react on it on real time basis." SGPC members and other office-bearers also gave feedback, especially about the adversities and negative things they were facing at ground level.