"Pamphlets With QR Code": Covid-Hit Candidate's "Hyperdigital" Campaign

Santhosh Babu, who had spent eight days in hospital, remains online for over 12 hours every day.

A candidate from Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam in Tamil Nadu has been running a "hyperdigital" election campaign after he contracted the coronavirus earlier this month. Under home quarantine, Dr Santhosh Babu, who is contesting Chennai's Velachery seat, is making full use of technology as he gets his message across to voters using his laptops, mobile phones, volunteers, PowerPoint presentations and pamphlets with QR codes. Mr Babu, who had spent eight days in hospital, remains online for over 12 hours every day. "I had a severe headache the day I filed my nomination papers and subsequently tested positive. After two days, my wife also tested positive. So, we spent 8 days in a hospital," Mr Babu, a former IAS officer, said. "Unfortunate for me, I am not able to meet up with my voters. So, we are trying the second-best way possible, that is digital campaign, which obviously cannot replace a physical campaign," he added.