Twitter the new platform for ‘power’ gossip

There’s a new place for political gossip: Twitter. After having electrified the Lok Sabha elections in May, social media is playing a punchy role in Indian politics once again — this time as a ‘trustworthy’ source for rumours and everything that is unfit to print or air.

By: ZIA HAQ
| Updated on: Nov 05 2014, 00:00 IST
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There's a new place for political gossip: Twitter. After having electrified the Lok Sabha elections in May, social media is playing a punchy role in Indian politics once again — this time as a 'trustworthy' source for rumours and everything that is unfit to print or air.

Did you know that BJP chief Amit Shah is considering tucking in his bulging waistline with a bariatric surgery in the US? Or that Robert phoned in a "dynasty hack" to limit damage from an unseemly incident? We can't independently verify all this, but these are breaking rumours, if you like.

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A slew of anonymous Twitter handles, like @LutyensSpice, @Lutyensmasala and @Raisinarumors have become active lately and much of the slander-masquerading-as-gossip is directed at rival political establishments. Sample this from @LutyensSpice: A newspaper editor recently took notes from NSA on vilifying Mamata Banerjee as a minority appeasing CM. Or this from @Lutyensmasala: It is incredible the amount of money Congress has set aside for Muffler. Kisi bhi haalat mein Muffler ko CM banao.

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For those craving political boardroom gossip, this one is sure to be exhilarating: "When Amit Shah met Uma Bharti, sparks flew, just like they did in the Nripen Mishra meeting."

The handles @LutyensSpice and @Lutyensmasala are a jousting arena for left-right standard bearers from the world of news media, where partisan hacks offer leaks, on-the-fly analysis and dish out a generally snarky fare without anyone refereeing on them.

Following suit are other handles such as @RaisinaRumors, which broke a pretty damning rumour: "Prashant Bhushan is going to hold a press conference to expose disproportionate assets of some ministers in Modi cabinet."

A follower @SandipGhose, summed up the phenomenon aptly with this post: "Suddenly all these handles appearing from nowhere…Looks like lot of people out of jobs in Delhi." We can't confirm this one either.

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First Published Date: 04 Nov, 23:57 IST
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