In a surprising turn of events, the remote village of Kuskem in Canacona taluka, located on the boundary of Goa and Karnataka, saw an unexpected influx of visitors this summer. Revolutionary Goans (RG) supporters, led by their lone MLA Viresh Borkar, descended upon the village to campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
While many political parties have been investing in tech-driven campaigns, RG chose to stick to the traditional method of door-to-door campaigning to connect with voters in interior Goa, where mobile connectivity is scarce. Borkar emphasized the importance of meeting people face-to-face to convey the party’s goals, especially in areas where social media outreach may not be effective.
Despite the rise of AI-generated campaign materials and social media outreach, political parties like the BJP and Congress in Goa believe that there is no substitute for direct voter engagement through door-to-door campaigns. BJP spokesperson Giriraj Pai Vernekar highlighted the party’s focus on connecting with voters throughout the year, not just during elections.
Congress president Amit Patkar shared how the party has been using AI technology to target specific voter groups with personalized video messages. However, he stressed that traditional campaigning methods, such as door-to-door visits, corner meetings, and public gatherings, remain essential in reaching out to voters effectively.
Both BJP and Congress have placed a strong emphasis on door-to-door campaigns, with BJP even establishing ‘Panna Pramukhs’ responsible for reaching out to 30 voters each. This micro-level approach aims to ensure that every voter is engaged and informed about the party’s agenda. As the Lok Sabha polls draw near, political parties in Goa are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to connect with voters through a mix of traditional and tech-driven campaign strategies.