Revisited: Rahul Gandhi’s Follower Dilemma and the Role of Government Pressure
Recently, Rahul Gandhi made a controversial statement claiming that under government pressure, Twitter is limiting his followers. However, data and analysis reveal a much different picture.
The Reality of Follower Numbers
No one wants to follow RahuJi, the part-time politician. Blaming ModiJi for everything is not the right approach. To gain followers, one needs to do something good. Thank you.
An Idiom for Context
“Naach na jaane aangan teda” is a beautiful Hindi idiom that translates to “A bad workman blames the tools.” In truth, Rahul Gandhi’s Twitter follower base, although increasing at a slower pace, is not declining. A recent report in The Wall Street Journal, based on its independent surveys, showed that as of December 2021, his followers stood at 19.5 million. This was after gaining an average of nearly 400,000 new users a month in the first seven months of 2021. However, from September to December 2021, this number dropped to an average of fewer than 2,500 new monthly followers. Despite this, his account saw a sudden gain of about 11,000 new followers on January 21, 2022, followed by an average daily gain of nearly 10,000, the highest since early August.
False Allegations and Publicizing Inefficacy
Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to blame Twitter and the government for curbing free speech in India has garnered significant attention. In a letter to Parag Agrawal, he claimed to be under government pressure, stating, “I have been reliably albeit discreetly informed by people at Twitter India that they are under immense pressure by the government to silence my voice.” This accusation, however, is unsubstantiated and appears to be a failure in his own public relations strategy.
Twitter has completely dismissed these claims, maintaining its stance that no secret deals were made with the government. By making such accusations, Rahul Gandhi is enraging Twitter and possibly alienating potential followers. Moreover, by openly admitting his declining popularity, he is amplifying his own message to those who were already skeptical. This only raises questions in the minds of the Twitterati: “Is he really less popular? Should we switch to XYZ?”
Implications and Future Strategy
The implications of these statements and the current trends in his follower base are significant. Rahul Gandhi’s less-than-adequately mature personality and approach are not doing him or his party any favors. The lack of effective communication and substance in his follower growth campaigns indicate a need for a more strategic and realistic method to engage with his supporters and the public.