Indirect polls in colleges, varsities demanded

The Bharatiya Bikash Parishad on Sunday submitted memorandums to Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik demanding holding of indirect elections to the Students Unions in all the Government and private colleges and universities in the State from this year. Informing this at a Press meet, Parishad State president Surendra Panigrahi stated that the JM Lyngdoh committee’s suggestion for cleansing Students Union elections from politicisation and criminalisation was accepted by the Supreme Court way back in 2006. Panigrahi argued that students are being influenced for interest of political parties as activists of student wings of different political parties are being involved in Student Union elections.

He said hooliganism resorted to during elections is seen to have pushed future of many poor, rural, Adivasi students in dark. The college authorities have often declared institutes sine die, which hamper studies for months.

Panigrahi mentioned that the Ravenshaw University Vice-Chancellor Prof Prakash Chandra Sarangi had wisely conducted indirect electiuons last year and created history.

The Parishad urged Vice-Chancellors of all universities and Principal of all colleges to conduct indirect elections as per the direction of the Supreme Court and suggestion of the Lyngdoh Commission. Panigrahi threatened that the Parishad would file an PIL in the High Court if the Higher Education Department does not issue notification for holding indirect elections within 15 days.