Bhopal: After a long gap of six years, student union elections will be finally held in colleges and institutions of higher learning in state on October 30; but certain changes in the poll pattern put on effect this year have dismayed the students.
Students fear the amendments will render the election clawless, as contrary to the earlier tradition student council will not be formed at university level this time after state government scrapped the provision in the student union poll guidelines for academic session 2017-18, issued on Thursday.
The new guidelines issued by department of higher education (DHE) stated that polls would be held only for the election of class representatives and formation of student union at college level. “The polls won’t lead to formation of student councils at universities. There will be no polls for university representatives at colleges, and thus, there will be no student union at university level,” the guidelines read.
University student council is an important body, which represents students of all colleges under the university. For winning positions in this council, student wings go all guns blazing in the elections. But, with the withdrawal of university-level student council, this year’s election has turned out to be a hollow process and a less exciting exercise for many.
“With disallowing formation of student union at university level, the government has taken excitement out of the election. Still we are happy that college union elections are at least happening,” said ABVP national secretary Rohin Rai.
However, though ABVP strangely went soft on the changes put on effect by the government despite being unhappy with the existing pattern of polls for quite some time, NSUI expressed its utter displeasure with the decision, asking government the compulsions behind stopping the formation of student body at university level.
“If government allows elections in colleges, it should allow the same in universities as well. What’s stopping them from doing so? Government should clear air on the issue or we will move court,” NSUI state president Vipin Wankhede said.
Notably, student councils were formed at both college and university level in the last elections held in 2011. While polls were held to constitute student council at college level, office-bearers were selected on merit basis from university representatives elected at colleges.
Polls at teaching depts
Though there won’t be student council at university level, polls will be held at university teaching departments on the lines of colleges. All teaching departments will be treated as a whole and a single college. Like college, the UTD will also have student union council comprising president, vice president, secretary and joint secretary, poll guidelines issued by DHE read.
Election of CR, student council
According to the guideline, a student having name in the voter list will at first propose name of a candidate for CR post, following which the candidate will submit nomination paper to contest election. After results for CRs polls are announced, process for student council will begin. Elected CRs can contest election for any one of the posts in student council. The elected CRs will cast vote and winners will find place in the council.
