PU student council poll: Campaigning intensifies on campus as candidates reach out to students
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, August 31
A day after the finalisation of nominations for the September 5 Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) elections, the candidates remained busy informing students about their past achievements and the agenda they aim to work on if elected. Classes saw thin attendance despite the university authorities declared today as a working day.
ABVP presidential candidate Arpita Malik, who was interacting with students at the Student Centre, said she had already covered departments of sciences, the UICET, psychology, mathematics and statistics. She added, “Women safety is our top priority. We are the only party to have released a special manifesto focusing on women rights and their issues on the campus.”
The Democratic Student’s Front, a rebel faction of the NSUI, is also actively canvassing in various departments of the university. “We want to change the politics on the campus. Rather than politicians coming to the university, we want to ensure that students from here go out to serve the country as politicians and make a mark,” said the presidential candidate of the front, Anurag Dalal, a research scholar.
The NSUI, the party which saw rebels leaving citing interference from the Delhi leadership, has been campaigning on issue of placements for students. “If elected, we will guarantee placement for 50% students on completion of their studies. Last year, we fought on the issue of menstrual leave and got it implemented after winning,” said Rahul Rain, the Congress-backed parties’ face for the top post.
Mukul Chauhan, a second-year student from the Department of Laws, is contesting for the president post and is representing ‘Team Mukul’. “We have covered over six departments as of now,” said the 24-year-old. Despite not being associated with any mainstream party on the campus and neither any political party, Mukul is hopeful of a positive poll outcome. “Parties have political bosses. For us, students are our bosses and we do what they ask for. Come what may, we will always work for the welfare of students,” he added.
Sarah Sharma, a second-year student of MA History, is PSU Lalkaar’s face for the top student council post. Gearing up for door-to-door campaign in hostels, she said the politics in the university was being run by mainstream political leaders and they had turned these elections into alliance games. “Students are not getting influenced by their cheap tricks. The needless chaos, SUV culture, etc, is very less on the campus this time. Voters know who is actually working for their welfare,” she added.
CYSS battles infighting
The Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) campaign suffered a dent after a heated exchange between leaders and members over lack of proper coordination in covering departments for canvassing. “The effort to unite and pacify groups by the party leaders is bearing no fruit. It is hard to manage,” said a CYSS campus leader.
Employees’ body head bats for ABVP nominee
Members of various student parties have complained to the authorities after the Panjab University Staff Association head requested support for ABVP presidential candidate Arpita Malik, whose father is the Deputy Director, Sports, at the university. He had uploaded a status on the social media asking fellow staffers to "insist and request their wards and relatives to cast their vote and support her". This has not gone well with many student leaders, who have complained to the authorities.
