Campaigning, MSU style

VADODARA, Dec 23: If you thought distribution of cards bearing the names of students, shouting slogans in front of classes and distributi...

VADODARA, Dec 23: If you thought distribution of cards bearing the names of students, shouting slogans in front of classes and distributing pamphlets were thought to be the only ways of campaigning for those contesting the M S University union elections, then think again.

As with most other kinds of elections, the power of the press is not to be underestimated. And so at least two leading local dailies have stepped into the field not for the first time propping up their8217; candidates and knocking down others.

It8217;s a game of mutual back-scratching that has existed through the years; the journos retain their power over the candidates if and when they get elected, and the latter get all the publicity they want in the media.

Take last year: News columns relentlessly plumped for Hemal Mehta 8212; contesting for the third consecutive time 8212; for the post of the vice-president, and ran down her three rivals for no fault of theirs. The newspapers8217; campaign line: A girl student had advantages over the others. This year luck has smiled on Jigar Inamdar, running for the post of general secretary, and Narayan Rajput Saddam, contesting for vice-president. They may not win, but it won8217;t be for want of media support.

There8217;s no doubt that the deal exists. Current general secretary Prakash Verma readily admits to this, saying reporters usually persuade their8217; union leaders to arrange for admission of family members or relatives with low marks. Often, it could be something more trivial, like getting admission forms for them or settling scores with a professor who had rubbed them up the wrong way. Often sources say, this could be over as trivial an incident as telling a reporter to wait till the teacher attended a call or asking him to phone a few minutes later.

8220;In the same way, we too want that every bit of work we do is recognised and projected,8221; said Verma. The work, sources say, could be promoting an agitation irrespective of the issue or getting back at a dean or teacher who has pulled them up.

The relationship is most evident during agitations and other public demonstrations. When an agitation is planned, members of the press usually get to know before the authorities do. The students wait for photographers to arrive at the spot before they go on the rampage. For instance, the ransacking of Pro Vice-Chancellor Deepak Kumar De8217;s cabin and that of former Commerce dean B S Patel had to wait till the photographers landed up. There have even been instances when the leaders deferred agitations or a chakka jam till the arrival of reporters and photographers was confirmed.

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Former university general secretary Kiran Raj said, 8220;We have to seek their assistance as without us being projected how would people know who was the university general secretary and what work he was doing for the benefit of the students8221;.