India PM Modi's BJP replaces social media head weeks after youth protests

New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has replaced its social media head, Amit Malviya, amid an organizational reshuffle, according to the party. This move comes weeks after youth-led protests, amplified through social media, compelled the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The reshuffle marks the first under new BJP president Nitin Nabin, who assumed leadership in January at the age of 45, making him the youngest BJP chief. The party cited the need to retain young voters and shape India's public discourse as reasons for the change. Malviya, who has been the social media head since 2015, was replaced by Deepak Mhaskey, a party spokesperson and head of the information technology cell in central India.

The BJP did not disclose the reason behind Malviya's replacement or the specific goals Mhaskey's leadership would pursue. The party emphasized that Mhaskey's leadership would bring "new milestones and continue to shape India’s public discourse with conviction, creativity and clarity." The reshuffle follows the protests that took place in New Delhi and other cities, demanding the resignation of Pradhan over the leak of question papers for a national medical college entrance exam.

These protests, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party, gained significant traction on social media, with the party's follower count surging to 15 million in just a week. In comparison, the BJP had fewer than 9 million followers on social media. Social media platforms played a crucial role in galvanizing the largely Gen Z protesters, who used them to mock Modi and his government through creative content such as raps, songs, and videos.