The Bharatiya Janata Party replaced Amit Malviya as the head of its IT and social media cell with Deepak Mhaskey on Monday [1].
This leadership change comes as the party seeks to revamp its digital engagement strategy. The move follows a period of online backlash and recent protests by youth, signaling a need for the party to better connect with younger voters [1, 5].
Malviya had led the BJP's social media operations since 2015 [3]. His departure marks the end of a long tenure overseeing the party's digital presence. The appointment of Mhaskey is intended to reset the party's approach to online communication, a shift the party deems necessary to counter current digital trends [1, 5].
Reports on Mhaskey's professional background vary. Some sources describe him as a data professional [2], while others identify him as a science professor [1].
As part of the broader reorganization, the BJP appointed a new team of co-conveners to support the IT cell [5]. This team includes Preeti Gandhi, Shivanand Dwivedi, Alok Bhatt, and Arun Yadav [5].
Additionally, the party named four state coordinators as part of the reshuffle [5]. These appointments are designed to strengthen the party's digital infrastructure across different regions of India, ensuring that the new strategy is implemented at the local level [5].
The reshuffle took place at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi [1]. The party has not provided further details on the specific tactical changes Mhaskey will implement, but the overarching goal remains the mitigation of online criticism and the expansion of its youth outreach [1, 5].
“The move follows a period of online backlash and recent protests by youth”
The replacement of a long-term digital chief suggests the BJP views its previous social media tactics as insufficient or counterproductive in the current political climate. By installing a new team and expanding state coordination, the party is attempting to pivot its messaging to neutralize youth dissent and modernize its digital appeal ahead of future electoral cycles.
