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Leading agencies, including Crayons, Percept, Amex Nixen, Paramin and Network, have made an elaborate presentation on party's media blitzkrieg strategy before a high level panel comprising Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, senior ministers and state party leaders.
This apart, some more agencies comprising Havas Media, Leo Burnett, Curry Nation and theater personality Bharat Dabholkar will also make presentations on Tuesday and Wednesday to the state Congress media campaign committee. State Congress unit is expected to spend Rs 50-150 crore on print, electronic and social media in the run up to the Assembly polls, especially after the humiliating defeat and a low key campaign during the Lok Sabha elections.
The state Congress unit proposes to award poll campaign-related jobs to different agencies, instead of selecting just one, to bring in creativity. These agencies will be selected soon to launch the party’s poll campaign, as the Election Commission of India is expected to announce the poll schedule early next week.
A senior Congress minister, who is a member of the media campaign committee, told Business Standard, “Congress will be on offensive in its media campaign. The party plans to project and showcase the Congress-led government’s achievements underlining how Maharashtra continues to be the favored destination in the country. A slew of decision, including water conservation, food security scheme, pro-investor investment policies, simplified and transparent land records system apart from policies to upgrade infrastructure in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra, will be played up.”
“Development will be key poll plank. There won’t be projection of any individual but focus will be on collective leadership.” Furthermore, the party will expose the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government’s 100 days report card, which the Congress terms as dismal, and also highlight the Modi-led government’s “step-motherly” treatment to Maharashtra, the minister added.
Another member of the media campaign committee said Congress’ campaign will also take on BJP and Shiv Sena for “dividing the society on the communal lines”. “It will be our attempt to tell the voters that the Congress-led government will do everything to maintain the social fabric and, therefore, vote for stability and peace,” he said.
