A student and a teacher have become rivals in the Assembly elections, though in neighbouring constituencies rather than a direct contest.

Senior Shiv Sena corporator Ravindra Waikar and his former teacher Dr Uday Mashelkar (MNS) are contesting Jogeshwari and Goregaon respectively.

While Waikar feels Dr Mashelkar should have left politics alone, Dr Mashelkar has mixed feelings about his former student: “As his teacher I feel he should win, but on a political platform, of course I would like my party candidate to win.”

Dr Mashelkar taught Waikar chemistry for two years at Patkar College and remembers him as an average student. “Academically he was average but socially he was very active in the student council and other forums,” he said. For his final year B Sc, Waikar picked physics as his major.

In politics, Waikar is senior to his teacher, having been a shakha pramukh before becoming corporator. Dr Mashelkar has been in touch with him through various alumni meetings. “Moreover politicians always maintain good relations with principals,” he smiles.

The two haven’t spoken after deciding to contest the elections, though Dr Mashelkar has followed Waikar’s political career closely and feels he is “a good politician who has done lot of development work in the area”. “But a teacher is always proud of his students and so am I about Waikar,” he says.

Waikar’s reason for contesting Jogeshwari, his second shot after 2004, is purely political, while Dr Mashelkar says his is a social cause. “I am not fighting for power. I was offered the opportunity by the MNS and I would want to do it for the cause of education.”

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