Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The BJP’s new social media team has triggered an unusual question just hours after its announcement: why did the X timelines of newly appointed co-convenors Priti Gandhi and Alok Bhatt appear inaccessible or show no publicly visible recent posts? Gandhi and Bhatt were among four leaders named to assist new social media convenor Deepak Mhaske, who replaced Amit Malviya in the latest organisational reshuffle under BJP president Nitin Nabin.
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The apparent change in visibility of the two accounts came shortly after the appointments were announced on Monday. Searches for recent original posts from the two handles returned no results, while their timelines appeared inaccessible or without publicly visible posts.
There has been no official explanation from the BJP, Gandhi or Bhatt on the apparent change in the visibility of their posts. It is therefore unclear whether the accounts were deliberately restricted, whether older posts were being reviewed, or whether the change was temporary.
Gandhi, who uses the X handle @MrsGandhi, has been an active BJP voice on social media for years. The Mumbai-based leader has worked with the BJP Mahila Morcha’s social media efforts and has also served as a Maharashtra spokesperson. She has built a substantial following through political posts, often taking an aggressive line against the BJP’s opponents.
Bhatt, who is based in Uttarakhand, has also been a consistent digital voice aligned with the BJP. He is known for detailed posts and threads on political and policy issues.
WHY COULD THE TIMELINES HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED?
One possibility is that the two leaders are reviewing their past social media activity after taking on formal organisational responsibilities. Party office-bearers handling communication can face greater scrutiny over their personal posts, particularly when those posts can be interpreted as reflecting the party’s position.
Older posts that are highly personal, aggressive or potentially inaccurate can become a liability once a leader assumes an official communications role. Restricting access to an account could allow a review of past content without it remaining immediately visible to the public.
Another possibility is a move towards tighter message discipline. Gandhi and Bhatt will now be part of a team responsible for the BJP’s social media communication. Keeping personal timelines less visible could reduce the possibility of individual posts being treated as official party positions, especially on contentious or fast-moving political issues.
The BJP could also be seeking to ensure that its coordinated social media campaigns remain at the centre of its digital communication rather than being driven by individual viral posts.
BJP REJIGS SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM
The changes are part of a wider restructuring of the BJP’s digital organisation. Deepak Mhaske has been appointed social media convenor, replacing long-serving incumbent Amit Malviya.
Gandhi, Bhatt, Shivanand Dwivedi and Arun Yadav have been appointed co-convenors to assist Mhaske.
The reshuffle comes as BJP president Nitin Nabin puts together his new national team, with the party bringing in new faces while moving several experienced leaders to different organisational responsibilities.
For now, however, there is no confirmation that the apparent change in the visibility of Gandhi and Bhatt’s X posts is linked to their new appointments. Any claim that the party directed them to restrict or remove their posts would require confirmation from the BJP or the two leaders.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
