Activist demands immediate monitoring of BJP-SP social media war in U.P. ahead of Assembly polls

Amitabh Thakur. Photo: Twitter/@amitabhthakur Lucknow-based social activist Amitabh Thakur wrote a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Thursday (November 12, 2026), expressing serious concern over the increasingly aggressive and personal nature of the social-media war between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections in 2027.In his letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Mr. Thakur sought immediate monitoring and stringent legal action over personal attacks, abusive remarks, AI-generated or manipulated videos, and misleading propaganda and messages that exploit communal sensitivities, which are posing serious challenges to public morality, democratic norms, social harmony, and law and order.“I observed that personal attacks, abusive remarks, AI-generated or manipulated videos, misleading propaganda and messages exploiting communal sensitivities are posing serious challenges to public morality, democratic norms, social harmony and law and order during election time. I urged the authorities to establish dedicated social media monitoring cells immediately, without waiting for the announcement of elections or enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct, and to ensure prompt and stringent action against unlawful content,” he told The Hindu, over the phone. Mr. Thakur added that his political party, Azad Adhikar Sena, will independently monitor social media content and initiate complaints and action against unlawful propaganda Published - November 12, 2026 02:52 pm IST