TNN

Mumbai, Apr 2: There is a new weapon in the arsenal of political parties for Election 2009. Even as the scramble for a wider vote-bank gains momentum, they are embracing information technology (IT), not just to get their word across to the man on the street, but to also showcase their prowess in the field.

As part of its online campaign, the Congress party is setting up around 600 internet kiosks countrywide to showcase its achievements. A dedicated IT team set up by the Congress is putting up these kiosks, which will feature customised interactive software, sources told TOI.

The kiosks will be used to register youth members on the party's website and will also beam excerpts from the speeches of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi, among others.

Not to be outdone, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also going the whole-hog and has formed an IT cell.

An official pointed out that not only is the party keen to automate its offices throughout the country, it has appointed over 15 state IT conveners to oversee regional operations.

The Congress manifesto specifically mentions that should it come to power, it would connect all villages to a broadband network in the next three years. As part of its pre-election plan, around 50 internet kiosks are to be set up in Gujarat alone, where the party is making concerted efforts to topple the BJP's Narendra Modi government.

According to the party's manifesto, "The Indian National Congress pledges to bring the fruits of the IT revolution to more cities and towns. It also pledges to connect every village to a broadband network within three years. This will help locate new, non-agricultural jobs in villages and open new opportunities for our rural youth. Already, IT is being used in areas like computerisation of land records but we now promise a bolder, time-bound initiative.''

On its part, the BJP is intent on connecting all state headquarters and districts through WAN (wide area networks) and has plans to opt for "cent per cent open source technologies''. While the party is keen to explore the benefits of IT-driven solutions in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, it is eager to dissimilate technology through a localised approach.

The BJP has spelt out its vision in its IT and telecom vision document, which pinpoints how the party plans to use IT as an important tool for change, if voted to power. This is a first of its kind sectoral poll manifesto.