With normalcy returning in university and college campuses after pandemic enforced lockdown student leaders are becoming increasingly vociferous for holding elections of student union in Uttarakhand. These elections are normally held in month of October in universities and colleges but they were suspended last year due to pandemic restriction. This year however suspense is prevailing over election of student unions.
The year is about to end and elections are yet to be held. Students angry with current situation are protesting in various colleges and university campuses. Interestingly both the government and universities are shifting onus on one another to take a decision on these elections.
The Higher Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat had recently stated that there is no restriction from the government regarding the student union elections and universities can hold elections if they wish. The universities on other hand are waiting for orders as government has issued orders regarding this matter in past. In many colleges and universities admission process is still on and results are yet to be declared. In such a situation, if the elections to student union are held, it can have an impact on examination and admission process.
This is reason why some universities do not even want student union elections to be held now. Students who are protesting point out that when public meetings, rallies and all other work can be done then there should be no problem in holding elections to students union.
Students added that many problems of students in colleges are resolved through student representatives, since elections are not being held on time by government problems cannot be looked into. Interestingly political parties of state who take a keen interest in these elections every year too don’t want student union elections this year as they are busy preparing for assembly elections. They fear that if election results of student union are not in their favour, then it can have an impact on assembly elections as well. Apart from this, the preparation of the elections of political parties can also be affected by the student union elections.
State President of NSUI Mohan Bhandari said that the government is delaying union elections so that it does not affect assembly elections and the government is making excuse of Covid for delay. He added that elections should be held as students are facing many problems due to absence of student union.
ABVP Ex-President Paras Goyal said that whole year has passed in admissions, new sessions and examinations which are already late due to Covid. He also added that threat of Covid-19 has increased with arrival of new variants and some students are apprehensive to come to college. Therefore environment is not appropriate to conduct these elections, he opined.
