The postponement clouds are yet again seems to be hovering over the upcoming student union poll of the State’s biggest university – Ranchi University (RU)– which was expected to take place in September.
Considering the recent course of development, RU VC Dr. Ramesh Kumar Pandey during the meeting with the leaders of student unions on September 17 had proposed to conduct the election during Durga Puja (DP) holidays.
However, amid much discussions and brainstorming, the representatives of the student union groups have opposed the decision of the university citing different reasons.
The members of different student unions have unanimously stated that in an attempt to somehow complete the process of conducting the poll, the university in haste wants to carry out the election during DP holidays.
Members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), National Students Union of India (NSUI), Adivasi Chhatra Sangh (ACS), Jharkhand Chhatra Morcha (JCM), All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Jharkhand Chhatra Vikash Morcha (JCVM) have opposed the decision of RU VC registering their disapproval during the meeting in the presence of Pro (VC) Dr. Kamini Kumar and other senior officials of the university.
Following the guidelines of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, every university must complete the process of conducting students’ election soon after the completion of admission process for the new academic session.
“We welcome the initiative of RU VC but our student union group is against the decision of conducting poll during the DP holidays as there are high chances of low voters’ percentage turnout, if the poll is conducted during holidays. Also, this year, the results of student union poll will have direct impact on the results of the upcoming Lok Sabha and State Assembly election slated in 2019,” said, RU Postgraduate (PG) students’ union president, Tanuj Khatri.
On the other hand, clarifying the varsity’s stance, the university officials opined that preparation of electoral roll, delay in completion of admission procedure after the introduction of Chancellor Portal – the online medium of getting the enrollment done including semester examination have left no other option with RU other than to conduct the election during the DP holidays.
“The intension of the university personnel is in the favour of the students only. The RU VC wants to utilize the holidays so that examination is not delayed in the wake of election. Also, considering the semester exams in December, the poll cannot be deferred till that time,” said RU Officer (PR), Dr. Prakash Kumar Jha.
Earlier in 2017, the issue of electoral roll preparations had gained much criticism from the students after it was revealed that approximately, 67,000 students then will be unable to cast their votes in the students’ poll and consequently the poll was cancelled in December.
“As of now, the RU Dean Students Welfare (DSW) has received the electoral roll from maximum colleges which are likely to participate in the election yet considering the results of part – 2, the final compilation of electoral roll will take some more time. Things are in pipeline. If not in DP holidays than in November, the university will try to conduct the students’ poll,” Jha further added.
According to the previous records, over 2 lakh students participate in the students’ union election covering 16 constituent colleges of RU.
To make certain the active participation of students in students’ union poll, during the meeting, the student union leaders have urged to the RU VC to ensure the participation of all affiliated and minority institutions in the upcoming student union poll in 2018.