2 Million Followers, Just 33 Votes: Rajasthan Influencer Learns Social Media Fame Isn't Electoral Clout

News india 2 Million Followers, Just 33 Votes: Rajasthan Influencer Learns Social Media Fame Isn't Electoral Clout

Last Updated:October 27, 2026, 11:44 IST

Omprakash Bishnoi contested the election for sarpanch of Indon Ki Dhani-II gram panchayat, hoping his digital popularity and local connections would help him win over voters.

A massive social media following may translate into views, likes and online influence but it does not necessarily win votes. Astrologer-influencer and YouTuber Omprakash Bishnoi discovered that the hard way after securing just 33 votes in a sarpanch election in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur district, with 11 of them coming from his own family.

Omprakash Bishnoi contested the election for sarpanch of Indon Ki Dhani-II gram panchayat in Osian tehsil, confident that his digital popularity and local connections would help him secure a victory. Instead, the result offered a sharp reminder that online fame does not always translate into grassroots support.

With more than 1.4 million followers on Instagram, around 232,000 on Facebook and 550,000 YouTube subscribers, Omprakash Bishnoi commands an audience of over two million across platforms. He is also the president of a local cow shelter and was contesting from his native gram panchayat.

Speaking to NDTV, Omprakash Bishnoi said villagers had encouraged him to enter the electoral fray and assured him of a sweeping victory.

“The villagers said, ‘You contest the election; we will ensure you win by a huge margin.’ But when the ballot box opened, I got only 33 votes, and 10 votes went to NOTA," he said.

The result left the influencer with a stark lesson about the difference between an online following and support at the ballot box.

“Social media is one thing, but the situation on the ground is different. Of my 33 votes, 11 came from my family. The rest came from people who studied with me and were close to me," Omprakash Bishnoi told NDTV.

Omprakash Bishnoi said his campaign focused on ensuring education for every child in the village, caring for destitute animals and helping residents access government schemes. He also claimed to run a cow shelter housing around 1,500 cows and said he had donated about 30 bighas of his land for the purpose.

Omprakash Bishnoi said he had not distributed money or intoxicants to voters and had not relied on a large convoy of vehicles during campaigning. He claimed he continued his public outreach using the same vehicle.

‘Social Media Is One Thing’

The election result drew attention online, with users highlighting the irony of an astrologer who claims to predict fortunes failing to anticipate his own electoral setback.

But Omprakash Bishnoi appears to be taking the defeat in his stride. He said contesting an election for the first time taught him the importance of connecting with voters on the ground.

He also said that he does not intend to give up and will continue working to improve the lives of villagers.

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