Pujara pads up for a different role
MUMBAI: Cheteshwar Pujara is padding up for a different role, and it has nothing do with batting at No 3. He will promote ‘electoral participation through voting’, appealing to people to show up at polling booths in huge numbers on election days.
On February 13, Pujara received a call from the Gujarat State Election Commission’s office on whether he was keen to promote the message of exercising franchise by the Election Commissioner of India.
The batsman agreed to devote time to a cause he believes can help promote democratic practices. “I agreed to do the campaign purely on the ground that it is non-political, and I am told that 70% of the total voters are under the age-group of
35. If I can help in getting more youth to the polling stations, it will be better for our democracy.” said Pujara.
The choice to pick Pujara came after the EC scrutinised his profile, which was sent by the State Election Commission. There were a few factors that worked for him --- no political leanings or activities, hence apolitical in many ways.
“Cricketers are generally popular and after a profile check we found that Cheteshwar is apolitical and a youth icon, so we engaged him to get more youngsters to participate in the voting process,” said Chetan Gandhi, deputy district election officer, Rajkot.
Pujara’s appeal to the masses will be carried through various methods
--- outdoor campaigns, posters, video clips, television, movie theatres and FM radio stations.
“Whenever I have time, I will devote some of it to the campaign. They have taken my voice recordings in Gujarati, English and a bit in Hindi to use for the audio campaign. Cricket is still my priority, but the campaign will help create a good democratic system, and I am all for it,” said the Saurashtra batsman.