Election authorities have intensified social media monitoring ahead of the Dharapuram and Madurantakam Assembly by-elections. As in previous elections, a dedicated team of officials and staff has been tasked with tracking online activity linked to the polls.
After the last Assembly election, political parties began paying closer attention to the role of social platforms—especially the influence of short-form “reels” among young voters. Since then, parties including the DMK have stepped up their focus on digital outreach.
With campaign messages, criticism and election-related posts circulating widely, the election monitoring wing is keeping a close watch on both recent bypoll content and posts that followed the previous election. Officials are also assessing how far social media could shape voter sentiment in the current bypolls.
In Dharapuram, posts related to TVK candidate Sathyabama are said to be under separate scrutiny. Sathyabama had won the last election on an AIADMK ticket, later resigned the post, and is now contesting under TVK.
Authorities are also examining the authenticity of information shared online and its potential electoral impact as the by-elections approach.
