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India's Modi Turns to Instagram to Woo Young Voters After Gen Z Protest
The party is posting short videos to counter setbacks and reach first-time voters, with one Modi reel drawing more than 1.1 million comments.
On Thursday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party expanded their use of Instagram Reels to engage nearly 400 million Gen-Z voters ahead of the 2029 general election.
Protests last month over examination paper leaks and job frustration prompted the shift, as demonstrators used social media to challenge the government's narrative and forced the BJP to abandon its polished, top-down messaging style.
Cabinet ministers have followed Modi's lead, issuing lightly edited clips over the past 10 days. Professor Joyojeet Pal warned that content appearing 'too carefully curated' is 'less likely to be appealing' to Gen-Z audiences.
Beyond digital platforms, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat will address about 2,000 students in Mumbai on Thursday, representing one of the group's biggest Gen-Z engagement efforts.
As Gen-Z prepares to become a major voting bloc by 2029, the effectiveness of the party's Instagram focus remains uncertain. Author Anurag Minus Verma observed that 'it remains to be seen if Gen Z buys into that.