Ranchi University is abuzz with student union election. However, the schedule for election has surprised the student unions, which are skeptical about the much-awaited election and believe that the university might pull back from its decision. The notification for the election was issued on August 26 for four posts of Ranchi University Students Union.
According to the notification issued by the university the election in all constituent colleges, post-graduate departments and institutions will be conducted through direct method whereas in the university election will be conducted through indirect method.
While election at the university will take place on October 20, students at the constituent colleges will elect their representatives on September 26.
“We welcome the decision and we are preparing for elections but I doubt that the university will stick to its decision. It has a practice of announcing schedules and then cancelling the notification. This schedule clashes with Durga Puja and most of the students will be on leave so how they will conduct elections is difficult to understand. So unless filing of nomination starts we are not sure whether they are serious about conducting election,” said University Coordinator, Akhil Bharti Vidyarthi Parishad, Prasanna Mishra.
Notably, four office bearers of Ranchi University Students Union will be elected through election. Among the office bearers to be elected include president, Vice-president, Secretary, Joint Secretary and Deputy Secretary. The university has brought changes in the Statute which envisages setting up three councils—Advisory Council, Executive Council and General Council-- in each college and PG departments to provide guidance to students, prepare budget among other tasks for the elections.
All councils will comprise students as well as university faculties and the election will be held under the auspices of Ranchi University apparently the reason behind the opposition to the election process by National Students Union of India (NSUI). The NSUI has opposed the University’s participation in the election process. Interestingly, the NSUI has also expressed its reservation about schedules.
“We will stage protest against the election. We wanted that the University stays out of the election process and students should have conducted the election but they did not agreed to our demand. Besides, the schedule highlights the seriousness of the University to conduct election. If model code of conduct for Assembly Election comes into force the Students Union election cannot take place. This shows that they do not want the election to take place,” said NSUI state representative, Sahbaz.
Election in all constituent colleges, PG departments and institutions will culminate by October 9 and election process at RU will start from October 11.
Notwithstanding the accusations of missing intent to conduct elections the University administration expressed its resolve to hold elections which is necessary to call meeting of Senate for clearing the budget for next session. The University rubbished the demands of allowing direct election as impractical and against the statutory norms.
“They always question our intention. We have issued notification with the intention of conducting election and this is the best time to conduct elections. If the model code of conduct comes into effect then we may approach the Election Commission to seek a solution to the stalled election process,” asserted Pro-VC of RU, M Razziuddin.
