Chautalas leveraging online presence for political success

With the advancement of technology, election campaigns have transformed significantly, moving away from traditional methods such as loudspeakers on rickshaws and autos. In the past decade, the rise of the Internet and social media has reshaped the way political outreach is conducted. Candidates now increasingly rely on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to connect with voters. The Chautala family, a prominent force in Haryana politics, has adapted to these changes and is highly active on social media.

Dushyant tops the charts

• Dushyant has 917K followers on Facebook, where he follows only four accounts: his parents, brother, and his party's page. On Instagram, he has 128K followers, and on X, his follower count reaches 500K.
• Ranjit Singh Chautala, former Cabinet Minister and Independent candidate from Rania, has 300K followers on Facebook. His Instagram presence is solid with 141K followers.

Among the Chautalas, Dushyant Chautala, former Deputy Chief Minister and JJP candidate from Uchana, leads in social media presence. Dushyant has 917K followers on Facebook, where he follows only four accounts: his parents, brother, and his party’s page. On Instagram, he has 128K followers, and on X, his follower count reaches 500K.

Abhay Singh Chautala, senior INLD leader and candidate from Ellenabad, follows behind. He has 485K followers on Facebook, where he follows eight accounts, including family members and Bollywood actors Chitrangada Singh and Shilpa Shetty. Abhay’s Instagram presence includes 116K followers, and he follows 13 accounts, which include family members and two pages related to the Indian Armed Forces. On X, he has 162.3K followers.

Ranjit Singh Chautala, former Cabinet Minister and Independent candidate from Rania, maintains a more focused social media strategy. He has 300K followers on Facebook and follows only his grandson, Surya Prakash Singh. His Instagram presence is solid with 141K followers, but he is less active on X, where his follower count is 3,399.

Digvijay Chautala, JJP candidate from Dabwali, is also actively engaging with the public through social media. His Facebook account has 142K followers, and he follows six people, including his immediate family members. On Instagram, Digvijay’s followers’ count is 215K, and he follows 79 accounts, including Punjabi singers and Bollywood actors. On X, he has 73.4K followers.

Arjun Chautala, INLD-BSP candidate from Rania, has 108K followers on Facebook and follows 24 people, including family and news channels. His Instagram presence is restricted with 16K followers.

Aditya Devi Lal, INLD-BSP candidate from Dabwali, has 16K Facebook followers and follows 13 people, including political figures like former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. He has 3.9K followers on Instagram.

Congress candidate from Dabwali, Amit Sihag, has 28K followers on Facebook and follows 32 accounts. His Instagram presence includes 4.7K followers, while on X, he has 6,385 followers.

INLD candidate from Fatehabad, Sunaina Chautala, has 83K Facebook followers and 25.5K Instagram followers. On X, she has 3.1K followers.

Regarding the parties’ official social media accounts, the INLD has 85K Facebook followers, 37.1K Instagram followers, and 27.7K followers on X. JJP, on the other hand, has 47K Facebook followers and 72K followers on X, reflecting a growing digital footprint in Haryana’s election campaigns.

As social media plays an increasing role in elections, the Chautala family remains actively engaged across platforms, leveraging their online presence in this evolving political landscape.