A mini-dossier on Elections '08

Election date: 5^th September

Votes Polled: 324-370 (Aabhas - Utsav)

MOV: 46 (could easily have been a single digit margin tilted towards either side)

Election defining issues:

Internship Cell, Travellers, Crossroads screw-ups of previous years, hostel domination, canteen renovation, allegations of corruption etc

[Inset - Aabhas Khanna & Utsav Mitra, the two principal opposing forces]

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7^th September:

As you already know, I’ve officially gained the bragging rights and I hereby announce that I have been elected the President of the Students’ Union after a rather keenly contested, closely followed, ultra-passionate election campaign. I would not get into a post-electoral analysis as to why we won and why they lost for two reasons –

1. It is always easy to dissect after the results are announced. As they say, everyone’s wise in posterity

2. A huge element of luck is always involved, which is conveniently ignored by seasoned psephologists of all hues and colors for all practical purposes

I fully understand that the chair brings enormous responsibility and would test my mettle at every turn in this journey. The feeling of victory was absolutely overwhelming, personally satisfying and professionally rewarding. Clearly, I would remember this electoral journey of mine for the rest of my life – being rewarded with a prestigious post for campaigning for my room-mate, elevating myself to the #1 presidential contender’s position, plotting a series of moves in advance, second-guessing the opponent (s), designing the electoral strategy at a macro and micro level, employing covert and overt campaigning tactics and finally the emotional rollercoaster that I underwent during the process. I fully owe my victory to a few people who I do not have any words to thank. A few friends went out of their way to render unconditional support to my team and certainly deserve immense gratitude from our end – Arvind Shankar, Ritesh Daga, Manish Sachdeva, Sushant Joshi and Kuldeep Kaushik among several others.

[Inset - My post-victory salute, this had almost become a trademark of our campaign]

Our campaign theme was largely centered on the demonstrated leadership track record and proven expertise in running college affairs that I, personally and my team possessed. The opposition had some passionate orators with them and well-dressed pom-pom girls to attract attention, but alas, no prior experience in managing events of such scale and magnitude. Their campaign was an Obamaesque pitch for change, which unfortunately for us, was gathering tremendous momentum and giving us more than just sleepless nights. We were ultra-paranoid about the prospect of losing, since we just had SO much to lose, while the opposition really had nothing much to lose. I would be lying if I said that it wasn’t a definite goal to lead the Students’ Union as its President in my 3^rd year, very early as a freshman. I had been gathering credentials, expertise and knowledge in both election management and running the affairs successfully post-victory, right since my first year. I would’ve seen my three year long aspiration annihilate and lost tonnes of self-confidence, if I lost.

[Inset - People from both camps catching every syllable of the election results while they are being announced]

Elections have excited me for many reasons and I thank everyone (including God) for handing me this opportunity. I admit, not everyone is fortunate enough to be seriously considered for even contesting, let alone winning. Handling pressure, negotiating, deal-making, coercion and taking tough calls are just some of the traits that I’ve acquired or got better at, all thanks to the electoral process. Democracy, if for nothing else, is important because it allows quite a few people in every batch to receive these lessons. Anyway, nothing much to add really in this piece, except that I shall remember the electoral process for as long as I live, for the right and the wrong reasons, and I thank each and every person who made our victory possible with due sincerity.

[Inset - People from our camp going nuts post victory]