Given the vicious trend of rampant violence, use of money and muscle power and even murders becoming norms during the students' union elections in colleges across the country, witnessing the scenario in the degree colleges in Dehradun can be an edifying experience for one and all.
Here, the elections are taking place peacefully sans a glitch of sorts. Competition is there in the rival camps, but this does not spawn acrimony. There is no lack of enthusiasm among the students' leaders and their supporters when the nominations are filed. Full-pitched campaign goes on in full swing for days. The victory is celebrated with exultation and the defeat with melancholy. Yet, all these processes of the democratic engagement are conspicuous by the absence of the spirit of animosity. Save for a few incidents of verbal arguments, there is no report of scuffles with sticks, bamboos and the like occurring anywhere.
Pitching in for the campaign, the students' leaders and their supporters are seen interacting with the students and promising them support throughout the year. Hardly, any candidate raises issues like caste, religion, regionalism and the like to endear himself to his electorate. Female students are in the thick of the elections and this is because of the peace reigning here.
In DBS (PG) College, election has ended on Thursday without any report of scuffles among the students. In fact, to encourage the students to participate in the election process, DBS (PG) College organised open speech programme for the candidates and most of them actively participated and pledged to usher in the right academic ambience.
Some candidates used the opportunity to appeal to the voters to come to college at least on the polling day and cast votes whosoever they wish. This exemplifies that they are more for the spirit of participatory democracy to strike roots in the students than for just scoring victories at the expense of others.
During the nomination filing process, the candidates are seen seeking votes with folded hands-a true gesture for democracy. Such gestures tend to motivate the students to opt for politics in future. In the previous years' elections, there used to be a solitary girl candidate for a post in the electoral reckoning in MKP (PG) College, but this year, at least two girl candidates filed nomination for each of the posts there.
As the Government has given 50 per cent reservation to the women in Panchayat election, these girls may try luck when such prospects would come their way.
In SGRR (PG) College, the candidates abided by the model code of conduct. One can see in SGRR (PG) College how the college administration is successfully implementing lyngdoh Committee Recommendation during the students' union election. It was witnessed that the candidates had installed banners and posters at places fixed by the election officer.