Candidate selection and campaigning for students’ unions election in colleges at Steel City has yet to reach a feverish pitch with the students’ wings of major political parties working late in selection of suitable candidates. The elections are scheduled for September 29.
Initially for two to three days after the election notification, the probable candidates and their supporters jumped headlong into a frenzied campaigning to enhance their prospect ahead of the polls. But after that, things seem to have slowed down. So far it is uncertain who would be candidate of which students’ wing though the nomination date is already round the corner.
No sign of hurry is seen in the camps of BCJD (Biju Chhatra Janata Dal), ABVP and NSUI backed by the BJD, BJP and Congress and other students’ organisations. Three leading political parties are almost polarised in different groups. That is why, every group is eyeing to the final list of the candidates and after that they will try to give their support to the candidates.
The guidelines of the lyngdoh Committee may debar many aspiring candidates to contest in the election. An employee of Rourkela College on condition of anonymity said since last many years many posts of the college union have been going vacant as the students were not filling nominations due to lyngdoh Committee’s guidelines. This year also either the same thing can happen or in certain posts, the candidates will be elected unopposed without contestants. He also said in certain posts there would be every possibility of contest between two groups of a student wing.
An ABVP leader said so far the local MP and local MlA have not cleared their mind. They are also in confusion on candidate selection. Similarly, the difference between Raghunathpali MlA Subrat Tarai and former Rourkela MlA Sarada Prasad Nayak can create problem in achieving unanimity in selection of candidates for the BCJD. Since Congress’s position is very miserable as many of leaders, including the DCC president, had left the party during last Assembly elections, it would also be very difficult for it to sponsor candidates in many colleges.
It may be noted here that the Government Autonomous College, Rourkela College, SG Women’s College, Ispat College, Municipal College, Neelasaila Mohavidyalaya, Gandhi Mohavidyalaya, Priyadarshini Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Vedavyas College and Bondamunda College are going to hold union elections.