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West Bengal Parties Ramp Up Digital Warfare Ahead of 2026 Elections
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As West Bengal gears up for assembly elections in 2026, the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are considerably bolstering thier digital teams, signaling a heightened focus on social media as a key battleground. Both parties are preparing for an intense online campaign to sway public opinion and counter opposing narratives.
The escalating digital arms race reflects a broader trend in Indian politics, where online spaces are increasingly crucial for political mobilization and messaging. According to political analysts, the digital landscape has become as vital as traditional methods of campaigning.
TMC Launches “Digital Joddha” Initiative
The TMC has launched “Ami Banglar Digital Joddha” (I am a digital warrior of Bengal), an initiative aimed at recruiting and training a large network of volunteers – dubbed “digital joddhas” or digital warriors – to proactively engage in the online sphere. Abhishek Banerjee, national general secretary of the TMC, recently emphasized that “political battles are fought not just on the streets or in Parliament, but increasingly in the digital space, where Bangla-birodhis (anti-Bengal forces) are spreading fake narratives.”
The program involves a multi-stage process. Volunteers who register will have their details collected and be assigned specific roles within three categories: content creators, social media managers, and digital amplifiers. Following an initial orientation, participants will undergo four weeks of online and offline training. A TMC leader stated that approximately 50,000 volunteers have already signed up, with registration continuing through the end of November. While the positions are unpaid, volunteers will be eligible for rewards and remuneration based on performance.
BJP Focuses on Legal Protection for Online Supporters
In response, the BJP is taking a different tack, establishing a special media cell dedicated to providing legal support to its digital volunteers and party workers.This initiative comes amid allegations that supporters have faced “harassment” by police for their social media posts. Saptarshi Chowdhury, the BJP’s social media in-charge in West Bengal, explained that the party is “in the process of setting up a special team of lawyers who would extend legal support to our digital volunteers right up to the booth level if they face any kind of harassment by the police.”
The BJP’s strategy is spearheaded by Amit Malviya, the party’s national IT cell head, who has already convened a meeting to discuss the plan.A larger meeting is planned to finalize a more detailed strategy for the upcoming “digital war.” A senior BJP leader revealed that the party intends to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to generate content highlighting perceived failures of the TMC government, including concerns about law and order, corruption, and crimes against women.
West Bengal a Hotspot for Fake News
The increased focus on digital strategy comes against a backdrop of growing concern over the spread of misinformation online. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed that West Bengal recorded the highest number of cases related to fake news on social media in 2021, with 43 reported incidents. This represented a significant portion of the 179 such cases reported across India that year, exceeding numbers from Telangana (34 cases) and Uttar Pradesh (24 cases).
The TMC and BJP previously traded blame for the surge in fake news cases during the
