Manama: Social media has imposed itself as the most effective way for candidates to communicate with voters as Kuwait gets ready for parliamentary elections, expected to be among the most-hotly contested, on November 26.
Twitter, Instagram and Facebook seemed to lead the way in the parade of mobile applications used extensively by candidates in their endeavours to win the hearts and minds of voters.
The new media applications easily outperformed the traditional media comprised of newspapers, radio, television and leaflets, reports in Kuwait said.
Users with high numbers of followers have stepped in with offers to promote candidates for high fees that have at times rivalled those asked by newspaper advertisement departments.
Social media companies are offering to manage and run campaigns in the new media for fees ranging from 10,000 Kuwaiti Dinars (Dh121,374) to 60,000 Dinars, Kuwait News Agency (Kuna) reported.
The campaigning is set to stretch the limits to which candidates are willing to go to secure seats in the parliament.
The official news agency said that some candidates have set up election quarters that offer special treatment to voters that are usually available in five-star hotels.
People attending the speeches or meetings by candidates are offered roses upon their arrival and can later help themselves to lavish banquets prepared for the occasion.
On a less festive note, the authorities are monitoring campaigns to ensure full compliance with the law and to combat tendencies by some candidates or supporters to buy votes.
The Court of Appeals on Tuesday will look into the challenge of the government against the ruling of a lower court to reverse the decision by the interior minister to bar 13 candidates from running in the elections for failing to fulfil requirements.