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Mumbai: Collegians want to vote and make a difference post-26/11. The leap in student sign-ups has been 30 per cent

In the last week, over 18,000 college students have earnestly enrolled their names in the voting list for the forthcoming elections. Insiders say this welcome trend could well be the critical factor in sealing the fate of many politicians aspiring for position and power.

A first-time voter from the previous elections  pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Sanjay Sarvode, returning officer on electoral duty, says that there has been an increase of up to 30 per cent in the number of first-time hopefuls who have registered from colleges, compared to the last elections.

"If the same level of enthusiasm prevails on election day, the student lobby could well become a force to reckon with, especially in areas like Malabar Hill, Warden Road and Colaba in south Mumbai or Bandra and Juhu in the western suburbs, where the educated class are conspicuous with their absence on D-day," says Sarvode.

Another election officer, who did not wish to be named, claimed that over 300 students were registering themselves daily. "The rush from students is unprecedented. Though the youth may also be procuring voting cards as testimonial proof for other purposes like getting passports, they seem to be charged up to exercise their voting rights," he says.

Gerson da Cunha, convenor and trustee of AGNI that initiated awareness programs in all south Mumbai colleges, feels that post the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, students were largely unsure of what to do next. "During our interaction with them, we asked them to channelise their pent up anger into the electoral process and bring about the requisite changes in a democratic way, by weeding out the rot from the political system," says da Cunha.

Suresh Nangia, another AGNI activist, says that the simplification of the enrolling process for students, which now requires minimum documentation and can be carried out based on a simple valid college ID, has gone a long way in increasing the number of first time voters.

"In the past elections, an average of 40 per cent Mumbaikars voted. While the suburbs registered approximately 47 per cent, south Mumbai lagged behind at 40 per cent. We hope to reach a much higher target this year, which shall be achieved by the active participation of first time voters from colleges," says Nangia.

Shyama Kulkarni, chairperson of H/ west ward federation which covers Bandra up to Andheri, states that their initiative to distribute thousands of badges to college students, which proclaim that 'I shall not vote for a criminal', clubbed with personal interaction yielded positive results. "In our ward, over 4,500 students have already enrolled in the voting list and the number is growing. They want good governance, which is devoid of criminalisation and they want it now!" she says.

Principal Dr A C Vanjani of MMK college in Bandra, which saw over 800 student registrations in a single day, states that the level of awareness of elections is at an all-time high. Professor Mary Rosaline Edward, who coordinated the enrollment process, states that it's obvious that students are not showing affiliation to any particular political party, but were more interested in voting for candidates with credentials.