Tuesday, 30 November 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
With normalcy returning in the university and college campuses after the pandemic enforced lockdown the student leaders are becoming increasingly vociferous for holding the elections of the student union in Uttarakhand. These elections are normally held in the month of October in the universities and colleges but they were suspended last year due to the pandemic restriction. This year however suspense is prevailing over the election of student unions.
The year is about to end and elections are yet to be held. Students angry with the current situation are protesting in various colleges and university campuses. Interestingly both the government and the universities are shifting the onus on one another to take a decision on these elections.
The Higher Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat had recently stated that there is no restriction from the government regarding the student union elections and universities can hold elections if they wish. The universities on the other hand are waiting for the orders as the government has issued orders regarding this matter in the past.
In many colleges and universities the admission process is still on and results are yet to be declared. In such a situation, if the elections to the student union are held, it can have an impact on the examination and admission process. This is the reason why some universities do not even want student union elections to be held now. Students who are protesting point out that when public meetings, rallies and all other work can be done then there should be no problem in holding elections to the students union. Students added that many problems of students in colleges are resolved through student representatives, since elections are not being held on time by the government the problems cannot be looked into.
Interestingly the political parties of the state who take a keen interest in these elections every year too don’t want the student union elections this year as they are busy preparing for the assembly elections. They fear that if the election results of the student union are not in their favour, then it can have an impact on the assembly elections as well. Apart from this, the preparation of the elections of political parties can also be affected by the student union elections.
State President of NSUI Mohan Bhandari said that the government is delaying the union elections so that it does not affect the assembly elections and the government is making the excuse of Covid for the delay. He added that elections should be held as students are facing many problems due to the absence of the student union.
ABVP Ex-President Paras Goyal said that the whole year has passed in admissions, new sessions and examinations which are already late due to Covid. He also added that the threat of Covid-19 has increased with the arrival of new variants and some students are apprehensive to come to college. Therefore the environment is not appropriate to conduct these elections, he opined.
