To woo the voters in favour of their candidates, the leaders of different student unions of DAV (PG) College are using various methods on the campus, the city and at different places in the adjoining districts from where maximum numbers of students are enrolled.
As election is approaching nearer, union leaders and their supporters have started door-to-door campaign. Union leaders organise meetings occasionally to review their plans apart from motivating their members and supporters to intensify the campaign.
Aryan Group leader Mahendra Singh (Mahi) said that around 100 teams comprising up to five students each have been formed and deployed for conducting door-to-door campaign at different places like Saharanpur, Roorkie, Haridwar, Vikasnagar, Sahaspur, Harbertpur, Raipur, Rajpur, Jakhan and other places. According to him, his group had purchased 1,000 prospectus forms for different bachelor degree courses to help students in their college admission.
Though DAV (PG) College has not declared students’ union election date, different unions started campaigning by installing posters and banners in the campus and city. Student rallies in the college campus and distribution of pamphlets to new comers by the leaders and their supporters can be seen in campus.
Involvement of outsiders in the rallies cannot be ruled out. Several unions have placed candidates’ posters and banners in government and private buildings in the city. This is the clear violation of lyngdoh Committee Recommendations for students’ union election. Neither college administration nor district administration takes action against these union leaders.
According to college staff, as per lyngdoh committee’s recommendations on union election, candidates and their supporters cannot organise rally without prior permission from college. Election rallies outside college campus and inviting outsiders in the rallies is strictly prohibited in the recommendation. Candidates cannot use printed posters and pamphlets in campus or the city.
Former State president of National Students Union of India (NSUI) Sandeep Kumar said that around 50 teams comprising union members have been formed and deployed at different places in Dehradun to woo the voters. NSUI has declared Bhupendra Negi its presidential candidate for college students’ union election.
NSUI members reached the homes of those students who had enrolled in college with the help of NSUI members. These students were told to provide detailed information about their friends or neighbours’ who have enrolled or wished to enroll in the college. The members reached their friends home and motivated them to vote for NSUI candidate.
He claimed that around 3000 students’ were enrolled with the help of NSUI members in the college. To help the students during admission, the union had purchased around 4, 000 prospectus forms. According to him, large number of students had purchased prospectus form and would enroll by August 24.
Former students’ union president Anshul Chawla said that several methods are used during election to motivate voters. Students are promised all help during admission and later until they complete their course. Meetings are organised at union office and members are deployed to campaign door to door at different places.
DAV (PG) College Principal Devendra Bhasin said that there is no wrong if union leaders purchase prospectus forms and sell it to the students for the original price. It should be mentioned that college has sold around 26000 prospectus forms and around 15000 students have enrolled themselves so far. The last date for admissions in the college is August 24.