WhatsApp shaped Indian politics between August and November 2025 more than any other platform. It influenced the Bihar election cycle, amplified misinformation, exposed internal party disputes, revealed cyber breaches, and triggered renewed pressure on Meta and WhatsApp over privacy and traceability regulations.
The platform acted as a fast route for political claims, unverified recordings, targeted campaigns, and coordinated messaging.
WhatsApp and the Surge of Vote Chori Narratives
A wave of allegations centered on voter deletions, EVM manipulation claims, and BLO coercion spread through WhatsApp groups from October through late November. This content then jumped to X, where related hashtags gained significant traction.
Opposition leaders used WhatsApp messages, audios, and screenshots as evidence.
Examples include:
• Rahul Gandhi circulated an audio claiming a plan to delete OBC votes in Bihar, shared widely as a supposed WhatsApp leak.
• Akhilesh Yadav posted group chats as proof of large-scale voter removals in UP and West Bengal.
• Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Manoj Jha, and others echoed similar concerns using forwarded clips and images.
• Claims of BLO deaths tied to the SIR process circulated, even when unverified.
Quotes from these leaders often framed WhatsApp content as documentation. For example, Prashant Bhushan stated,
“These recordings show the pressure under which officers worked during the SIR process.”
The BJP and its media teams responded with their counter-narrative
Their messaging centered on allegations that foreign networks amplified Vote Chori claims:
• Sambit Patra accused operators based in Pakistan and Bangladesh of spreading memes to damage trust in the ECI after the Bihar result.
• Amit Malviya said WhatsApp rumors about EVM pre-loading originated from accounts based in the UAE and Hong Kong.
• BJP leaders such as Nalin Kohli and Pradeep Bhandari framed Congress
WhatsApp groups are disorganized and reliant on misinformation.
The Election Commission attempted to counter the spread.
ECI statements clarified that SIR removed duplicate entries, not targeted communities.
ECI also refuted claims that EVMs had foreign connectivity.
WhatsApp also captured broader public concerns.
Youth anger over unemployment, debates over migrant travel arrangements, and questions about staggered polls appeared frequently in group forwards. Regional tensions in Himachal Pradesh, J&K, Delhi, and Kerala followed similar patterns.
These patterns show how WhatsApp can turn administrative adjustments into full public controversies before fact checks can circulate.
Best Ways for WhatsApp as a Political Narrative Tool in India
WhatsApp has become one of the most influential platforms for shaping political narratives in India. Political parties use it for rapid message distribution, targeted outreach, voter mobilization, and narrative reinforcement across local and national groups. From circulating claims, speeches, and campaign creatives to countering misinformation and monitoring public sentiment, WhatsApp enables parties to control messaging flow, influence perceptions, and respond quickly to emerging issues. It also acts as a space where internal debates, leaked chats, and public grievances surface, making it both an organizing tool and a narrative battleground.
| Key Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Targeted Messaging | Parties use WhatsApp groups to send customized messages to specific voter segments, including youth, women, booth-level workers, and regional communities. |
| Rapid Narrative Amplification | Forwarded texts, voice notes, and images help political claims spread quickly before fact checks can catch up, shaping early public opinion. |
| Campaign Coordination | Party workers rely on WhatsApp for internal communication, event planning, booth-level monitoring, and real-time updates during election cycles. |
| Meme and Creative Distribution | Parties circulate memes, posters, and short videos to influence feelings, strengthen identity politics, and push issue-based narratives. |
| Crisis and Reputation Management | Leaders use WhatsApp to counter allegations, release clarifications, and share proof or testimonies in response to viral controversies. |
| Voter Mobilization | WhatsApp reminders are used for rallies, door-to-door events, polling schedules, candidate updates, and last-minute GOTV efforts. |
| Monitoring Public Sentiment | Group discussions give parties real-time insight into voter concerns, grievances, and narrative shifts across states and demographics. |
| Countering Opposition Claims | Parties push counter-narratives, debunk opposing claims, and circulate supportive content to maintain narrative dominance. |
| Internal Information Flow | WhatsApp facilitates fast communication among party leaders, staff, strategists, and volunteers at all organizational levels. |
| Data Collection and Feedback | Parties run surveys, polls, and signature drives to gather public feedback on issues, governance, and election strategies. |
Cyber Breaches and Manipulated WhatsApp Groups
Another major trend involved hacked political groups, leaked audios, malware attacks, and admin takeovers. These incidents spread through Telangana, Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry.
Telangana saw the sharpest rise in breaches.
• Fake SBI APK files installed malware on ministers’ phones, allowing attackers to enter groups.
• Journalists and political staff received fake Aadhaar update links that compromised their WhatsApp accounts.
Leaked chats revealed financial misconduct and allegations of vote-buying
Examples include:
• NCP’s Malegaon group leak that suggested funds were exchanged for votes.
• A Palakkad audio that raised concerns about bribes in Kerala.
• Cash-for-votes tapes in Palghar that circulated in opposition circles.
• Claims of six hundred fake voters registered in coaching centers before the local polls in Maharashtra.
Protests and arrests are also linked to WhatsApp leaks.
Youth Congress workers in Puducherry were arrested after circulating chats alleging an ECI-BJP rigging arrangement.
Deepender Hooda accused the BJP in Haryana of using donations to pressure voters through group messages.
These incidents demonstrate that a WhatsApp group can quickly turn from a coordination tool to a source of damaging leaks.
Foreign Toolkits and Propaganda Networks
Foreign influence became a central talking point across several stories involving accounts based in the UAE, Hong Kong, and Pakistan. BJP spokespersons repeatedly referenced these networks in press conferences.
Key patterns included
• BJP claims that the Vote Chori content originated from foreign accounts.
• Allegations that outside networks spread narratives about communal tensions and security issues.
• Memes about Manipur, bulldozer politics, and Operation Sindoor circulated widely.
• A claim that Pakistan-linked accounts promoted Rahul Gandhi in Bihar.
• Reports that AI tools produced deepfake videos of the Prime Minister.
• Concerns that bots amplified both nationalist and anti-government messages.
International watchdog involvement added to the debate.
EU DisinfoLab published findings on coordinated anti-Pakistan messaging associated with Indian groups, including activity linked to WhatsApp.
Claims also surfaced that fabricated NGOs lobbied the UNHRC with WhatsApp-distributed narratives.
Regional tensions also spread through WhatsApp forwards, such as messages about Nepal’s map on banknotes.
These stories reflect how encrypted messaging apps can carry political narratives across borders with little visibility.
Regulatory Battles and Platform Policy Clashes
Legal and regulatory scrutiny of WhatsApp intensified during this period. Courts, ministries, and enforcement bodies issued rulings, notices, and warnings that influenced how the platform operates in India.
Key regulatory developments included:
• NCLAT upheld a 213 crore penalty on WhatsApp and Meta regarding the 2021 privacy policy.
• CCI repeated that the policy used unfair methods.
• The Supreme Court rejected a PIL seeking a nationwide WhatsApp ban, citing constitutional concerns.
• The IT Ministry defended traceability provisions aimed at containing fake news and deepfakes.
• WhatsApp stated in court that breaking encryption would force the company to leave India.
Security and financial enforcement also increased.
• Meta introduced anti-scam tools focused on senior citizens.
• I4C issued 426 notices and coordinated takedowns of over 110,000 unlawful links, many connected to misinformation.
• The Finance Minister said WhatsApp messages exposed large-scale tax evasion using crypto.
• SEBI sought authority to remove unregulated financial advice spread through messaging apps.
• Agencies warned that encrypted apps aided hawala operations and political data breaches.
The combined effect shows how WhatsApp now sits at the center of India’s digital security and regulatory debates.
Campaigning, Influencers, and Party Infighting
WhatsApp served as a key organizing tool for national and regional campaigns, and it also became a source of leaks that exposed internal rifts.
Large-scale outreach campaigns used the platform for targeted messaging.
Examples include:
• BJP’s mass distribution of a personalized “Modi Letter” to hundreds of millions of users before the Bihar election.
• Coordinated messaging by Fadnavis, Yogi Adityanath, and Amit Malviya.
• AAP’s campaign to gather one lakh WhatsApp signatures on Delhi road issues.
• TVK’s attacks on DMK through meme-based campaigns in Tamil Nadu.
• WhatsApp-focused outreach in Goa, Odisha, and West Bengal.
Internal disputes surfaced through leaked chats.
These included:
• Tensions between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.
• Leaks involving Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray during civic seat-sharing talks.
• Rohini Acharya’s exit from politics, which she attributed to internal family conflicts accelerated by forwarded messages.
• INDIA bloc disagreements and the Congress post-mortem linked to WhatsApp groups.
Election strategy shifts also relied on WhatsApp.
• BJP promoted its Bihar model to West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, with emphasis on youth and women’s outreach.
• Sharad Pawar said schemes for women influenced voters and spread quickly through WhatsApp networks.
These examples show that the platform is not only a channel for campaign outreach but also a record of internal disputes that often become public.
Closing Perspective
WhatsApp operated as more than a messaging app. It shaped narratives, informed public sentiment, and influenced how political parties organized, attacked opponents, and defended themselves.
It also exposed vulnerabilities, from cyberattacks to foreign narratives, and placed renewed pressure on the platform regarding privacy and traceability.
WhatsApp as a Political Narrative Tool in India: FAQs
What Role Did WhatsApp Play in Indian Politics Between August and November 2025?
WhatsApp became the primary platform for political messaging, misinformation, internal leaks, voter-related allegations, election narratives, and the shaping of public sentiment.
How Did WhatsApp Influence the Bihar Election Cycle?
It amplified narratives about Vote Chori, voter deletions, EVM manipulation, and opposition claims, many of which later migrated to X and became national conversations.
Why Were Vote Chori Allegations So Prominent on WhatsApp?
Vote deletion claims, BLO coercion narratives, and alleged EVM tampering proliferated in WhatsApp groups, where unverified audio and chats spread rapidly.
Which Political Leaders Used WhatsApp Forwards as Evidence?
Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, Tejashwi Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, and Manoj Jha shared WhatsApp screenshots, audio recordings, and group chats as evidence of alleged irregularities.
How Did the BJP Counter Opposition Narratives Circulating on WhatsApp?
BJP spokespersons argued that foreign networks amplified Vote Chori content and accused accounts from Pakistan, Bangladesh, the UAE, and Hong Kong of spreading misleading messages.
How Did the Election Commission Respond to Viral WhatsApp Claims?
ECI clarified that SIR removed duplicate entries, denied targeted deletions, and rejected allegations of foreign connectivity in EVMs.
What Themes of Public Concern Spread Through WhatsApp Forwards?
Youth unemployment, migrant issues, concerns about staggered polls, regional tensions, and local grievances appeared frequently across groups.
What Kind of Cyber Breaches Were Linked to WhatsApp During This Period?
Incidents included hacked political groups, malware attacks, admin takeovers, fake APK scams, and compromised accounts of journalists and political leaders.
Which States Saw the Highest Number of WhatsApp-Related Cyber Issues?
Telangana recorded the sharpest increase, followed by Maharashtra, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry.
What Types of Political Leaks Emerged From Breached WhatsApp Groups?
Leaked chats revealed alleged vote buying, bribery discussions, financial misconduct, and unverified claims about fake voter registrations.
How Did WhatsApp #Leaks Trigger Political or Legal Action?
In some regions, leaked chats led to protests, FIRs, and arrests, such as those of Youth Congress workers in Puducherry, who faced charges after circulating allegations of rigging.
How Did Foreign Toolkits and Propaganda Networks Use WhatsApp?
Claims surfaced that foreign accounts spread misinformation about Vote Chori, communal tensions, deepfakes, and geopolitically sensitive issues.
What Involvement Did International Watchdogs Have in WhatsApp-Related Narratives?
EU DisinfoLab reported coordinated anti-Pakistan campaigns tied to Indian networks, partly spread via WhatsApp.
How Did Regulatory Pressure on WhatsApp Intensify During This Period?
Penalties, policy scrutiny, court petitions, demands for traceability, and concerns about encryption placed WhatsApp under renewed legal pressure.
What Major Legal Rulings Affected WhatsApp?
NCLAT upheld a 213 crore fine on WhatsApp Meta, CCI reaffirmed its finding of unfair practices, and the Supreme Court declined a PIL seeking a nationwide ban.
How Did Enforcement Agencies Address Misuse of WhatsApp?
Authorities reported large-scale takedowns, anti-scam measures, warnings about crypto tax evasion, and alerts about hawala and data breach risks on encrypted platforms.
How Did Political Parties Use WhatsApp During Election Campaigning?
BJP, Congress, AAP, and regional parties used mass forwards, personalized messages, meme campaigns, and signature drives for targeted outreach.
How Did WhatsApp Expose Internal Party Conflicts?
Leaked chats revealed disputes within Congress, the AAP, the Shiv Sena, and the INDIA bloc partners, often making internal strategy disagreements public.
In What Ways Did WhatsApp Shape Regional Political Dynamics?
Forwards related to local grievances, such as Himachal floods, J and K security claims, Kerala tensions, and Delhi civic issues, turned administrative matters into controversies.
What Broader Conclusion Can Be Drawn About WhatsApp’s Political Impact in 2025?
WhatsApp evolved into a political battleground influencing narratives, coordination, misinformation, regulatory debates, cyber breaches, and internal party transparency.
