GUWAHATI: Campaigning has reached its peak at Gauhati University, with the postgraduate students' union (PGSU) election scheduled to be held on September 24. Counting of ballots will take place on September 25.
Though none of the leading student organizations have officially revealed the names of their candidates, university insiders said that it could be a strong contest between All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) and the Sangh-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) this time. At present, Aasu holds the majority in the 15-member PGSU.
Students' unions traditionally avoid extending open support to candidates of their favour at GU polls, fearing that this may lead to loss of votes due to their ideological standpoints. Nevertheless campaigning is on in full swing at the hostels and GU campus with around 4,500 students from the university eligible to exercise their franchise.
Aasu central executive member Gopal Das is upbeat about the outcome of the polls after the leading students' body registered a thumping win in the last PGSU election. "After the Congress was routed in the state, National Students' Union of India (NSUI) won't be a factor in this election. Our direct contest will be with the ABVP. But we are confident of beating them because in the previous two occasions, ABVP had to bite the dust, even after the BJP has been in power in the state," said Das.
Sources said that Aasu and ABVP has backed candidates for all 14 posts, including the portfolios of students' union president and general secretary. The post of vice-president has already been won uncontested by Lakhya Jeet Das.
Despite Aasu's confidence that their victory run will continue in GU, the ABVP said that it has its own plans to resist Aasu this time.
ABVP state secretary Rakesh Das said, "For the first time, we are expecting a good show in the PGSU election at GU. In the college elections held in Assam this year, ABVP's performance has improved significantly. In the colleges in and around Guwahati too, ABVP has been able to make its presence felt. We will reverse the trends in GU."
Though it's unclear whether NSUI has backed any candidate this time, the polls are also expected to be a litmus test for Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), the students' wing of the influential peasant organization Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS).
SMSS has emerged as a formidable opponent to Aasu and ABVP in the minority-dominated districts and parts of upper Assam.
An insider from SMSS, however, said that it has extended support to only one candidate who is contesting the coveted post of the PGSU president.
Though none of the leading student organizations have officially revealed the names of their candidates, university insiders said that it could be a strong contest between All Assam Students' Union (Aasu) and the Sangh-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) this time. At present, Aasu holds the majority in the 15-member PGSU.
Students' unions traditionally avoid extending open support to candidates of their favour at GU polls, fearing that this may lead to loss of votes due to their ideological standpoints. Nevertheless campaigning is on in full swing at the hostels and GU campus with around 4,500 students from the university eligible to exercise their franchise.
Aasu central executive member Gopal Das is upbeat about the outcome of the polls after the leading students' body registered a thumping win in the last PGSU election. "After the Congress was routed in the state, National Students' Union of India (NSUI) won't be a factor in this election. Our direct contest will be with the ABVP. But we are confident of beating them because in the previous two occasions, ABVP had to bite the dust, even after the BJP has been in power in the state," said Das.
Sources said that Aasu and ABVP has backed candidates for all 14 posts, including the portfolios of students' union president and general secretary. The post of vice-president has already been won uncontested by Lakhya Jeet Das.
Despite Aasu's confidence that their victory run will continue in GU, the ABVP said that it has its own plans to resist Aasu this time.
ABVP state secretary Rakesh Das said, "For the first time, we are expecting a good show in the PGSU election at GU. In the college elections held in Assam this year, ABVP's performance has improved significantly. In the colleges in and around Guwahati too, ABVP has been able to make its presence felt. We will reverse the trends in GU."
Though it's unclear whether NSUI has backed any candidate this time, the polls are also expected to be a litmus test for Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), the students' wing of the influential peasant organization Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS).
SMSS has emerged as a formidable opponent to Aasu and ABVP in the minority-dominated districts and parts of upper Assam.
An insider from SMSS, however, said that it has extended support to only one candidate who is contesting the coveted post of the PGSU president.
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