Archive · 20 Sep 2026
BJP Social Media Push Puts Old Guard Under Camera Spotlight
The BJP is asking its older leaders to show their public activities on social media.
Rajnath Singh took part in prayers and events for Narendra Modi’s birthday, but looked uncomfortable while speaking to a camera.
BJP leaders in Odisha also visited temples and shared photographs of lighting lamps for Modi.
In Assam, thousands remembered singer-composer Zubeen Garg on the first anniversary of his death.
Both the BJP and Congress held activities in his memory.
In Kerala, the government created a special team to investigate major drug cases after a large anti-narcotics campaign.
At Delhi University, student candidates used unusual endorsements and posters to attract voters.
These examples show how politics increasingly mixes public events with online publicity.
BJP leaders, including Rajnath Singh, were urged to publicly document temple visits, prayers and events marking Narendra Modi’s birthday.
Singh appeared uncomfortable in a social-media video while lighting a lamp and praying for Modi’s health and long life.
Zubeen Garg’s first death anniversary drew thousands in Guwahati, while the BJP and Congress separately organised memorial activities across Assam.
In Odisha, BJP leaders lit lamps for Modi, while the chief minister’s office claimed about one crore diyas were lit across the state.
Kerala’s home minister created an anti-narcotics investigation team after Operation Toofan registered 10,918 cases and led to 11,776 arrests.
- Who
- Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, Narendra Modi, Zubeen Garg’s supporters, Kerala government officials and Delhi University student candidates.
- What
- The article describes BJP social-media directives, Modi birthday events, memorial activities for Zubeen Garg, Kerala’s new anti-narcotics team and Delhi student-election campaigning.
- When
- The BJP activities took place around September 17, Modi’s birthday; Zubeen Garg’s memorial activities were held on his first death anniversary; Operation Toofan ran for less than four months.
- Where
- The events took place in Varanasi and Delhi, across Odisha and Assam, in Kerala, and at Delhi University.
- Why
- BJP leaders were expected to demonstrate loyalty and public activity online; other initiatives aimed to honour Garg, fight narcotics and attract student voters.
Supporters of Visible Political Outreach
Critics Concerned About Performative Politics
Social-media participation
Supporters of Visible Political Outreach
The BJP’s new political approach treats online visibility as an important part of communicating leaders’ activities and loyalty to Narendra Modi.
Critics Concerned About Performative Politics
Some older BJP leaders appear uncomfortable being filmed and pressured to turn private or ceremonial actions into social-media content.
Modi birthday observances
Supporters of Visible Political Outreach
BJP leaders presented temple visits, lamp-lighting and prayers as public demonstrations of goodwill toward Modi and his leadership.
Critics Concerned About Performative Politics
The highly staged photographs and videos can be viewed as displays of political allegiance rather than purely religious observances.
- BJP social-media directive
- Party leaders were nudged to remain active on social media and document public actions.
- Rajnath Singh’s age
- The Union defence minister was described as 75 years old.
- Modi birthday events
- September 17 events included temple prayers, lamp-lighting ceremonies and a bike rally from Varanasi to Vadnagar.
- Zubeen Garg remembrance
- Thousands gathered at his memorial site in Guwahati on his first death anniversary.
- Operation Toofan results
- The Kerala campaign registered 10,918 cases and resulted in 11,776 arrests in less than four months.
- New anti-narcotics team
- Ramesh Chennithala constituted an Anti-Narcotics Investigation Team to pursue major drug cases and trafficking networks.
- Odisha lamp claim
- The Odisha chief minister’s office claimed that around one crore diyas were lit across the state.