Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 13 March 2024
Twitter is ablaze with the hashtag #KuldeepHataoAndamanBachao, targeting the sitting Member of Parliament for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma. However, a startling revelation has emerged from the trending tweets: approximately 99% of the profiles behind these posts have no discernible connection to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, nor have they previously engaged with content related to the region.
Furthermore, an intriguing pattern has emerged from the subsequent activity of these accounts. Following the tweets under #KuldeepHataoAndamanBachao, many of these profiles have swiftly pivoted to sharing posters promoting the upcoming release of the movie “Bastar” with the accompanying hashtag #2DaysBastarMovie.
This sudden shift in activity raises suspicions of orchestrated behaviour, suggesting a coordinated effort behind the trending of #KuldeepHataoAndamanBachao. It is suspected that a significant portion of the accounts contributing to this trend may be under the control of an organisation utilising bots or leveraging genuine accounts operated by them.
While the exact motives driving this artificial trending remain unclear, sources close to Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma hint at a potential link to a scheduled meeting in Delhi today. Such tactics of manipulating social media trends for political gain are not unprecedented, with political parties often employing similar strategies to further their interests.
In response to this suspected manipulation, a senior figure within the Congress party have indicated their intent to file a criminal complaint to investigate and identify the individuals or entities responsible for orchestrating the artificial trend under #KuldeepHataoAndamanBachao, whether through bots or controlled genuine accounts.
The emergence of suspected bot activity underscores the evolving landscape of social media influence in political discourse, raising questions about the authenticity and integrity of trending topics. As investigations unfold, attention will be closely focused on uncovering the extent and motivations behind this concerted effort to shape online narratives.