Syndicate demand deferring MSU senate polls over probe

Vadodara: Thirteen senate members, including seven government-nominated and six elected members, on Saturday demanded that MS University should postpone the upcoming senate elections.
In a memorandum submitted to MSU registrar, the senate members demanded that the upcoming elections be postponed in view of the ongoing inquiry set up by the Gujarat government to probe the alleged irregularities in appointments and other matters.
“We would like to bring to your notice that the committee was set up by the Gujarat government after the representation made to the education minister. We strongly request and demand that the ongoing process of senate election should be immediately postponed,” the memorandum states.
Further, the group argued that even the Central Commission of Scheduled Castes have sought clarification from MSU vice-chancellor (VC) in matter of appointments.
“In such circumstances, we have doubts regarding a free and fair election process. Also, we demand that the elections of all the categories of the senate should be done on a single day rather than making the election process spread over a month,” the memorandum further stated.
The group has claimed that at a time when both VC and registrar are facing inquiry, the election process might get influenced especially in the professors and teachers category.
“The term of the present senate body ends on March 31, 2022 but the process is being done in haste,” the senate members said.