Modi, Kejriwal, Mamata, Lalu to chat with Facebook users

The company is launching 'FacebookTalksLive'session with key national and regional leaders ahead of the Lok Sabha elections

In the run up to Lok Sabha polls, Facebook users would now be able to discuss the electoral agenda of country's top politicians including Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Arvind Kejriwal among others from next month.     

Facebook users would be able to pose questions directly to key political contenders for 2014 general elections with the launch of a special initiative, 'Facebook Talks Live', by the social networking website.     "In this 'Facebook Talks Live' season, you can ask Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav how they will govern India and what are their priorities and agendas," Public Policy Director (India and South Asia) of Facebook, Ankhi Das, said in a statement.     

The website users can put up their questions for political leaders at a dedicated page on the social networking website from today.     

Eminent journalist Madhu Trehan would moderate the session by ask questions on behalf of Facebook users, which would also be live-streamed on the website besides being broadcast on a private television channel.     

BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would be the first guest on the session scheduled for March 3 to whom netizens can ask about his stand on various issues, question about his party's policies and his vision for India. It is estimated that over 93 million people in India are engaged actively every month on Facebook.

"We have always been focused on making sure that we give people the power to share, and to make the world more open and connected. This and the opportunity to engage actively and regularly with constituents have led campaign teams and leaders to use the medium, making Facebook a core part of the political infrastructure in the country," Das said.     

The Facebook official said social engagement is at the core of the website's values and in politics and elections, it is also key to influencing voting behaviours and organising opinion.