청년시위 뒤 SNS 수장 바꾼 인도 집권당…‘온라인 주도권·Z세대 표심’ 되찾나

Following the recent political upheaval in India, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has undergone a major organizational change. Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister, has replaced the head of the party's social media and information technology department, Amitt Malaviya, with Dipick Maske, a chemist and election data analyst.

The change comes just three weeks after the educational minister resigned following the leak of national entrance exams (NEET) scores, which sparked a nationwide protest largely led by young voters on social media. The protests, which began on May 25th, demanded educational reform and accountability for those responsible for the leak.

Dipick Maske, who is only 45 years old, is the youngest person to hold such a position in the party's history. The move is seen as part of Modi's efforts to attract and engage with younger voters through a renewed focus on online communication and engagement. Modi has since increased his use of social media, including rap music videos and selfies, to connect with the younger demographic.

However, the party has not provided specific details on why the personnel change was made or how it relates to the youth-led protests.