Realizing that the social media team of the Telangana Congress party has been ineffective in countering the digital onslaught from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders on various issues, PCC president and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is reportedly planning to revamp the party's entire media setup.
According to sources, the current social media team, led by Manne Satish, has failed to swiftly and effectively respond to allegations made by the BRS, particularly during the emergence of any controversial issue.
For instance, when the BRS social media team campaigned extensively against power supply interruptions in the state, claiming that the system had deteriorated since the Congress came to power, the Congress party’s social media team did not provide an effective counter.
As a result, Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka had to personally address the issue and clarify that there were no imposed power cuts, only short-term interruptions.
A similar situation occurred following the recent collapse of the retaining wall at the Sunkishala intake well at Nagarjunasagar due to heavy inflows into the Krishna River.
Despite the fact that the wall was constructed during the BRS regime, the Congress party failed to capitalize on this and counter the BRS leaders, who blamed the incident on the negligence of Revanth’s government.
It appears that Manne Satish has been cautious in his approach since the Delhi police served notices to Revanth and some of his team members over a doctored video clip of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Additionally, Satish and a few others were recently appointed as chairpersons of corporations, further necessitating a change in the social media team.
Revanth reportedly discussed these issues with senior party members and suggested that it might be better to hand over the social media wing to the party’s consultants, Mindshare Analytics, headed by strategist Sunil Kanugolu, who is expected to bring in young and fresh talent.
“A decision is expected to be made after the chief minister returns from his trips to the US and South Korea,” sources said.
In fact, State Women and Child Welfare Minister Konda Surekha acknowledged that the Congress party has struggled to effectively counter attacks from opposition parties on social media.
“We have informed the chief minister of the need to establish a powerful social media team. Instructions have also been issued to Gandhi Bhavan to set up the team,” Surekha said.
