The charisma of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seems to have seeped through the elite walls of Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. Such is her craze that a galaxy of IIM-C students have applied for internship in the ruling Trinamool Congress in the State. Their job would be to help the party formulate campaign strategy in the coming lok Sabha elections.
The placement seekers’ file is so long that the party had to go through a screening session selecting only a given number from those who had applied.
About 31 management students, both from final year and first year had applied. “Though we invited applications from final year students only, 17 first year students have also applied,” Derek O’Brien said, adding the party think-tank had sorted out 14 final year students for two-month internship during which they would help the party formulate communication strategies. The students would have to work with party youth wing president Abhishek Banerjee whence they would be required to give newer ideas on communication and campaign strategies. Abhishek Banerjee is the nephew of the Chief Minister.
Two IIM-C pass-outs — H Sriram and Mansha Tandon — had in 2011 worked with the Trinamool Congress as interns preparing communication strategies. These students had later found that the way the political parties functioned was no different from the way corporate houses worked. The only difference is the political parties work in a larger area and with a wider scope.
The selected students would be required to sit in group discussions managed by five leaders of the party. After this, they would have to go through a personality test so that the party can get an idea about their communication skills.
This time round the students would also be asked to prepare online campaign strategies — including preparing slogans and stratagem so as to make the ruling party more acceptable to the people. Speaking about the Trinamool’s roping in IIM-C experts to frame strategies, left leader Ashok Ghosh said the leftists had only one path, being with the people and fighting for their cause throughout the year.