iModi: A New 'App' for Narendra Modi

Bangalore: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has become India’s first political leader to have an ‘app’ of his own called “iModi” on the iPhone and iPad platforms.

Modi’s “official application” on iTunes was released on 29 March and can be downloaded for free. It offers his mass of followers on social media platforms another avenue to keep track of his and his government’s unfiltered message.

Currently, the app, maintained by Modi’s official website administrators, propagates news on the Gujarat government’s policies and programme implementation. It also harnesses multimedia elements, including videos of Modi’s speech, in order to showcase his political progress as well.

A section on media coverage attracts positive narratives in the media, including the recent adulatory Time magazine cover story and the Brookings Institution commentary, which created quite a buzz in media circles. In fact the App users can also send a message directly to Modi from the platform.

The app represents a creative and resourceful way for a political leader to send out and manage his government’s message.  The Gujarat government has put technology to good use in other aspects of governance too; one of them being a pioneering programme that invokes technology to keep track of dropout rates in schools.