Youngsters go gaga over money, thrill in elections

By Sheena Shafia

Some are driven by cash, some just relish the sheer thrill of being out there and some for the ideology they believe in. Youth have stepped into the political arena, campaigning for different political parties in the city.

Youngsters, most of them pursuing professional courses and juggling with tight schedules, are actively canvassing for political parties. While some are doing it for monetary reasons, some are sympathising with the party keeping in mind the work done and while some are doing it after getting impressed by the party ideology, others are doing it just for ‘time pass’.

As most of students have holidays, hundreds of them have enrolled with party offices set up in different areas. They participate in rallies, accompany the candidates during padayatras and public meetings, put up party banners, wallposters, go for door to door campaigning and this way youngsters make handsome pocket money during the two-week period.

On an average, a youngster ends up earning Rs 200 to Rs 300 per day for carrying out party work. While others, who do not take money, get their expenses paid along with food, besides earning goodwill from the party.

Take the case of 18-year-old Mohammed Irfan, student of a vocational junior college in Kanchan Bagh. “In the mornings, I go door to door covering an area in Kanchan Bagh and propagate the ideals of the political party and attend public meetings in the night. It’s great earning your own money. It definitely gives you a high,” Irfan, who intends to get into politics eventually, said.

Hundreds of party offices which have sprung up in every nook and cranny have facilities for recreation. The youth play caroms, dominoes, etc in the evenings before heading for public meetings. For Dr Murtuza Hussaini, 27, a PG student of Deccan Medical College, it is sympathy that has dragged him away from his books to the campaigning work.

Though a busy medical practitioner, he is sparing four hours daily to campaign for a party. He is going door to door propagating the party’s ideology among people.