Top ‘retired’ politicians who still create online buzz

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Image credits: proudtobeindian.net
Image credits: proudtobeindian.net

Out of sight, out of mind, goes the old saying. But like many nuggets of traditional wisdom, even this one seems to be undergoing a revision in the age of social media.
While analysing the roughly 77 lakh conversations per day on Indian politics on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in the month of April, we came across many old warhorses who still packed a punch.
These politicians have either retired from the political arena completely, or have decided against contesting this year’s Lok Sabha elections.
We then calculated their Simplify360 Social Index (SSI), a definitive online rank for politicians which takes into account four parameters – awareness, spread, prominence and favourability.
The list is topped by BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He generated a buzz count of 44,628 in April, far more than many politicians contesting the polls this year.
Vajpayee in fact is placed 14th overall among all politicians, with an SSI score of 63.
Another politician who generated significant online buzz despite not contesting this time is Congress’ P. Chidambaram, the current finance minister.
Following him is NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who is active in politics but is not contesting this time, and former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit, of the Congress.
Here are the detailed scores of politicians who refuse to fade away:
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