The HNB Garhwal Central University’s (Pauri campus) student’s union election slated on August 26 has turned interesting in view of the direct contest between the BJP’s student wing, ABVP and the Congress’s student affiliate, NSUI, for the posts of union’s president, secretary, treasurer and university representative. However, the candidates are not contesting either as ABVP or NSUI candidates as there is a ban on such direct politicised contest. However, the way they are campaigning is making it clear which group they are representing.
No candidate has withdrawn from the fray on the last date of withdrawal on Thursday. ABVP-backed candidates are contesting the election for the post of president, treasurer and university representative. They are staging rallies to canvass for votes on the main roads of Pauri. Shalini Patwal for the post of vice-president and Radha Khatri for the post of joint secretary have been elected unopposed.
HNB Garhwal Central University Pauri campus’s chief election officer K C Purohit said things were going on smoothly.
For each of the posts, the contest would be direct. Gaurav Rawat (ABVP) and Gaurav Sagar will fight for the post of the union’s president while Rajat Singh and Subham Rawat are locked in the contest for the post of secretary. Deepak Godiyal (ABVP) and Yamni Rawat are contesting for the post of treasurer and Ankit Tariyal (ABVP) and Pawan Singh Negi for the post of university representative. Due to the cancellation of nominations of Sachin Rawat and Deepika Jatav for the post of Joint secretary due to their unsatisfactory attendance, Radha Khatri was elected unopposed for this post. Shalini Patwal was elected unopposed for the post of vice-president as no other student had filed nomination for the post.
Purohit said that the candidates had been provided with the copies of the rules and they would be strictly implemented in the Pauri campus premises. In case the rules are violated the candidatures would be cancelled, he said.
A meeting will be held on August 21 again to instruct the candidates about the norms as enshrined in lyngdoh committee recommendation. Over 1500 voters will go to ballots, he added.