The Pauri campus of Garhwal Central University is now abuzz as the campaign for the students’ union election has reached a feverish pitch following completion of the process of withdrawal of nomination. With 13 candidates left in the fray for the posts of president, vice-president, secretary, joint secretary, treasurer and university representative, they are now pulling out all the stops to woo the electorate. Notably, 13 candidates filed their nominations for the seats up for grabs and none has withdrawn. The polling would be held on September 1. In all, 14 candidates had been in the fray last year.
Rajat Kukshal of NSUI, Praful Bahuguna of ABVP and Subham Patwal an Independent are in the fray for the post of the president while Sonali Mundepee, NSUI and Aakash Kukreti, ABVP candidate are contesting for the post of the vice-president. NSUI candidate Aakash Rawat and Aryan candidate Sandeep Rawat are trying their luck for the post of secretary while NSUI candidate Nisha Godiyal and Aryan candidate Kajal Rawat are in the contestants for the post of joint secretary. For the post of the university representative, NSUI candidate Gaurav Sagar and Aryan candidate Bharat Bhushan Negi are in the contest. Aarsh Kureshi filed her nomination for the post of executive committee member. No other left in the contest, she would be declared elected to the post unopposed.
The election campaign is focusing more to woo the girl students who are more in number than their male counterparts in this campus. Three girls remaining in the fray for the posts of vice-president and secretary are lending the campaign a touch of its own.
Though the contest is among ABVP, the student affiliate of BJP, NSUI, the same of Congress and the Aryan Group the candidates cannot openly flaunt their political leaning because of a ban on the politicised contest. However, they are leaving no one in doubt in course of the campaigning which side they belong to. While a triangular fight would be held for the post of president it would be a straight fight for the posts of the vice-president, secretary, joint secretary , treasurer and university representative.
Chief election officer of Pauri campus Prof KC Purohit said that the polling for the students’ union would be held from 8 am to 12:30 pm on September 1. “There are more than 1,600 voters in the campus while the girls comprise 65 per cent of the electorate. No gathering is being allowed in the campus by way of campaigning. Things would be held on the norms of lyngdoh committee recommendations. Rajesh Dangwal is the election officer. He would assist me in conducting the election,” he added.