In contemporary times, social media platforms have been affecting people's political and social lives on a massive scale. On the other hand, these platforms are used by perpetrators of false information to mislead the masses. The phenomenon of fake news and misinformation is not new, but the proliferation of social media has made this issue more pressing. In 2016, the term "fake news" reemerged during US presidential elections. In a political scenario, disinformation and misinformation have the potential to influence political processes. Currently, social media platforms play a very significant role in political communication. Generally, preconceived notions and a set ideology about a political entity play a significant role in information processing. To fulfill the study's objectives, qualitative content analyses have been used. Different fake messages have been collected for content analysis, which went viral during the Indian General Elections 2019. To finalize the different fake messages, the Purposive sampling (non-probability) method has been adopted to fulfill specific criteria. Particularly in this research study, the analysis is based on five different categories or parameters suggested by Mike Cormack in his work on ideology. These five categories are Content, Structure, Absence, Style, and Mode of address. The study focuses on the role of fake messages in setting ideologies and agendas on social media platforms during the 2019 general elections. So, in this research study, different fake messages in the form of images and text have been considered for analysis. The analysis supports the theory of agenda building, and Narrative persuasion theory of communication.

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Keywords: Social Media, Ideology, Misinformation/Disinformation, and Fake News.