Artificial Intelligence has emerged as the newest campaign weapon in the municipal council elections of Ropar district, with political leaders increasingly using AI-generated videos and digital models to showcase their vision for urban development in towns like Nangal and Anandpur Sahib.
In a first-of-its-kind campaign trend in the region, leaders cutting across party lines are relying on visually enhanced AI presentations to connect with younger voters and present futuristic images of their towns.
The use of AI-generated visuals has added a new dimension to the otherwise traditional municipal poll campaigns dominated by door-to-door canvassing, posters and public meetings.
Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains recently shared an AI-generated promotional video on his social media page depicting an ambitious makeover plan for Nangal city.
The digitally created visuals showcased canals lined with colourful bougainvillea plants, artistic murals painted across city walls and decorative flower pots installed around the iconic Nangal Dam area.
The video projected a cleaner and aesthetically transformed Nangal with greenery, organised traffic spaces and modern public infrastructure. The AI-generated presentation quickly gained traction on social media platforms, with supporters sharing the visuals extensively across social media pages linked to the municipal poll campaign.
Political observers said the campaign reflected how technology was gradually becoming central to local body elections, especially in urban centres where younger voters are highly active on social media.
Similarly, senior BJP leader and state vice-president Subhash Sharma has also turned to AI-generated campaign material to highlight his development agenda for Nangal and Anandpur Sahib. Through videos uploaded on social media platforms, Sharma presented futuristic visuals of expanded industrial infrastructure, improved highways and employment opportunities for youth in the region.
One of the AI clips circulated by Sharma’s team showed the expansion of the National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) plant, modern industrial corridors and upgraded civic infrastructure aimed at boosting economic activity in the area. The visuals also depicted wider roads, better traffic systems and newly developed commercial zones.
The BJP leader projected the industrial growth model as a means to tackle unemployment and revive economic activity in the region. Supporters of the party claimed the videos had generated considerable interest among first-time voters and urban residents.
Political analysts believe that AI-generated campaign material allows leaders to visually communicate long-term development plans, which are otherwise difficult to explain through speeches or printed manifestos.
The growing use of AI in municipal campaigns has also triggered debate regarding realistic expectations and ethical campaigning. Critics argue that while AI-generated visuals create attractive impressions, voters may eventually judge leaders on actual delivery rather than digitally enhanced promises.
Residents in Nangal said the videos had become a major talking point in the town.
“Earlier elections were fought through slogans and rallies. Now candidates are showing digitally designed future cities,” remarked a local trader in Nangal.
The municipal council elections in Ropar district have already witnessed intense political activity, with parties trying to outdo each other through social media outreach, digital campaigns and aggressive publicity drives. Leaders believe online campaigning has become essential as a large section of urban voters consumes political content through smartphones and social networking platforms.
Political experts feel the trend could mark the beginning of AI-driven electioneering even in the smaller towns of Punjab.
