Punjabi varsity's wait for election date is still on

PATIALA: Universities and colleges in Punjab, especially Punjabi University in Patiala, are not in a mood to conduct students' elections this year as well.

The state government had put a ban on holding students' elections in mid-eighties - during the militancy period. Since then students' unions wait every year for the government to announce election dates.

A TOI team spoke to the leaders of various student bodies in Punjab and found that they were yet to prepare for the elections.

"We are waiting for the government to announce the election dates. We don't think the elections will be held this year. Nevertheless, we are going to hold meetings with our committee members to decide further course of action," said president of Demo cratic Student Union Amarjit Singh.

"Preparations will start once the election date is confirmed," said Charanjit Singh president of All India Student Federation President.

While Punjabi University's vice-chancellor B S Ghuman said that the university would abide by the decision of the state government, the university registrar, Manjit Singh Nijjar, said they were eagerly waiting for the government to announce the date of election.

Meanwhile, replying to a query as to if the government was planning to lift the ban anytime soon, the state education minister O P Soni said, "I do not know if the election date would be announced soon or not."