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Campaigning on the fast track

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Campus votes Politicians are reaching to the youth through newer means of communication

The battle lines have been drawn as the election campaigns heat up. Even as the poll frenzy sweeps across the nation, to woo the fresh breed of ‘first time voters’ the politicians have gone tech-savvy. Candidates are well aware that campus votes cannot be dismissed lightly; these are the deciding factors. Moving beyond the traditional means of communications like TV, radio channels and the print media, the parties are attempting to reach out to the youth through SMSes and blogs. Mobile phones have become an instrument to spread political and social messages. SMSes have been pouring in to garner support for various political parties. Blogs of politicians have also become a new means of campaigning. Compared to traditional media, blogs are faster, cheaper, and most importantly, interactive, enabling a level of voter involvement that is otherwise impossible with television or newspapers.

How do the youngsters who form a chunk of the electorate, react to the battle of the ballot and the election hullabaloo? A quick chat with some students on the city campuses revealed some interesting views on politics, voting and the election fever.

Most youngsters believe there is a growing awareness among the youth to cast vote and to be part of the election process that will determine the country’s future. “I will surely cast my vote. After all, in India we have a democratic system and it is very important to participate in the electoral process by exercising our right to vote,” believes Raj Hans, an M.B.A. student of GITAM. A B.Sc. final year student Smita who feels it is important to exercise one’s franchise says, “This is the first time I will be voting and I am excited to be part of the process.”

So, what will their priorities be while heading for the polling booth?

The youth firmly believes that the old war-horses should give way to the young generation. No wonder the political icons of many of them are Omar Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi. “It’s the young politicians who can make a difference to a country where more than 50 per cent of the electorate comprises the young,” says Taha Vira, a management student. V. Suhasini, who feels that the political affiliations of a candidate do not matter, plans to “give priority to the image and charisma of the candidate.”

For all their talk, how many of them are ready to commit themselves to politics full-time? Says Divyasree, “I want to serve the society by joining politics. It’s the people in politics who have ruined the system. But sincerity always pays.”

Arun, a software developer, says that the youth today are very aware of the political, social and economic scenario.

“There is a considerable change in the way youngsters think.

Earlier, for the sake of social service, they would have discontinued education and jumped on to the social or political bandwagon. The youth of today are smarter,” he explains.

Samrat feels that the youth are tired of the system and feel that politicians are not to be trusted. “People earlier knew what values the party stood for.

Now, people with muscle power dominate the party politics. Politics is losing face. In such a scenario, the youth are not drawn towards politics.”

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