MSU elections: Last-ditch efforts to woo voters

MSU elections: Last-ditch efforts to woo voters
Today being the last day for campaigning, candidates will go all out with their promotional strategies in an attempt to tap the student vote-bank
Devanshi Joshi & Maulik Buch. Vadodara/DNA

With the MS University student union elections just one day away, student leaders will use every trick in the book to spread their messages to a maximum number of students in the final round of election campaigning on Friday.Supporters of ABVP and NSUI and independent candidates will engage in a final flurry of promotions. Various departments, hostel halls, canteens, library and each and every corner of the university campus have been smothered by propaganda cards. Rallies, door-to-door publicity, SMSes, phone calls and social networking sites are being used to win voters' favour.However, after having delivered speeches at the different faculties, departments and hostel halls, the strategy is now going to shift towards a more hands-on and personal approach, and to that effect, supporters have started going to the homes of students, requesting for their vote in person.In order to facilitate a final, convincing campaign, the parties have let no stone unturned, making various provisions for supporters helping them in the election promotions. As per sources, "About 10,000 SMSes have been given free to supporters of candidates. Pre-paid connections have also been provided in bulk by the candidates. From petrol to vehicles and food - everything has been provided to make the supporters happy."Candidates and supporters are also reaching out to students through social networking websites, where university communities and student-group forums are being flooded with messages requesting support and highlighting negative aspects of the other contestants. Videos on websites like Youtube have also been uploaded besides sending SMSes and making personal phone calls. Bhavik Shah, a BCom Student and NSUI supporter, says, "We have posted messages on websites like Orkut to get the votes of the students. We are also meeting the students personally by going to their homes and by sending SMSes to increase their awareness about the party; to build a rapport. We have also posted a video on Youtube."An ABVP candidate for the post of VP (vice president), Amita Mistry, says: "As the countdown for the election has now begun, we are going for one-on-one contact to get the trust of students. Using technology such as social networking websites and SMSes has proved helpful in reaching the masses.''