Vote for a change: College elections to have innovative ways to seek votes
Fly like a Butterfly, Sting like a Bee. Don’t vote for them, please vote for me!
With most colleges in the city beginning the new academic year last week, a new Student Council waits for an opportunity to reign in each of them.
But nominations, elections and campaigning come first! Students coming up with themes, creative slogans and using social media to get votes, has brought a change in campaigning today.
Vlogging the entire thing on his YouTube channel, Utkarsh Choraria, a nominee for President says, “Elections in SJCC are extremely competitive. It seems like a two day fest during campaigning as there is music, people dancing and lots of fun! Red, white and blue are my colours this year. Cut-outs and huge 40 feet banners are what we use in college and funny posters with slogans for Social media.”
While the college isn’t really big on flamboyant campaigning, Sandra Sabu Varghese, a student of JNC, appreciates the systematic and democratic way in which the elections are held. “A great speech, classroom campaigning and distribution of pamphlets is what works here,” she adds.
Namratha Jain, who got elected as the General Secretary of MCC during the previous elections reminisces, “The four days of campaigning were a lot of fun. I was lucky I had such a wonderful team to help and support me. Wanting to do something innovative and fun, I chose Poh as my campaign mascot. For the social campaign, I posed as Poh and my friend dressed up as Poh for the classroom campaigning. My aim was to present myself as ‘their’ General Secretary and try to showcase selflessness, commitment, reliability and approachability. We sang songs and used placards with different slogans on them instead of just shouting in the name of campaigning”
A student of AMC Engineering College, Anirudh Candade, says, “There are no elections per say, but third year students who wish to be President, campaign to increase their popularity by means of candidate symbols, mascots and promising speeches.”
— Rachanaa Raaj
