Student Union Elections of Kumaun University : A Great Fest of Students

Kumaun University Student Union Elections : Does it make any difference???

 

From last one and half month election fever had gripped Kumaun University  but now it’s all back on track as it was earlier.
Student organizations like the ABVP, the NSUI raced against time to reach out to about 1 lakh students spread over 30 colleges of Kumaun University who are eligible to vote, to elect the President and other representative for Kumaun University Students Union.

The upcoming state elections in Uttrakhand has heightened the interest of political parties in the Kumaun University student elections. Political parties keenly watching the outcome for indications of the political mood among the youth of Kumaun region.

Being State’s largest university with students from all over the state studying in it, for political parties the outcome of the Kumaun university election was a strong indication of which way the wind is blowing.
It is no doubt that these elections are launch pad for these candidates into politics but every year we like to see it as student activism. Secondly, the political scenario in KU is in some ways a reflection of state politics so making it clean and fair is all responsibility of candidates.

"Winners" of 2015-2016 Student Union Election in Kumaun University

Losing Party in Election of 2015-2016
Better luck next time to these candidate.

Last year, the ABVP’s sweep of the Kumaun University Student Union in DSB Campus Nainital, and NSUI in MBPG college which is Largest College of Kumaon region.
Same results come this year of 2015 also, ABVP candidate “Pankaj Bhatt” of DSB Campus won the election and NSUI candidate “ Devendra Negi” from MBPG College won by very large margin. The result was not that much surprising, it was expected earlier that result will be like this only.
Colleges of Nainital and Haldwani represents students from all parts of Kumaon. These election in Kumaun university signals where the wave is thinking about to go. This represent a lot about the issues and the ideologies for what students are voting.
Student elections in MBPG college Haldwani are often said mirror of the real elections - everything from the exuberance down to accusations of "muscle and money power".

"Winners" of 2015-2016 Student Union Election in SSJ Campus Almora, SVPGC Lohaghat and LSMPGC Pithoragarh.

But I also want to draw your attention towards these points :

Following a Supreme Court order, to make recommendations on issues related to student bodies and student union election in institutions of higher education. Supreme Court in its order directed that the recommendations be implemented and followed by all colleges and universities for student elections. But on the ground, these rules are broken completely with no regrets. Every year same things happen.

Now let us look what Supreme Court says about College elections..

Clause 6.3.1
“No person, who is not a student on the rolls of the college/university, shall be permitted to take part in the election process in any capacity.”

But we know how many outsiders come to our colleges during election time and making the college environment very miserable.

Clause 6.6.1
“The maximum permitted expenditure per candidate shall be Rs 5000/-”

But we all knows that how money is used for buying support and other waste less works 

Clause 6.7.5
“No candidate shall be permitted to make use of printed posters, printed pamphlets, or any other printed material for the purpose of canvassing. Candidates may only utilize hand-made posters”
 

But we never see a single handmade poster from any student, from caps to posters and pamphlets, often advertising ballot numbers every thing were printed. Printed manifestos are released in conferences.

Clause 6.7.9
“Candidates may hold processions and/or public meetings, provided that (these) meetings do not… disturb the classes and other academic and co-curricular activities.”
This clause gets routinely flouted. Candidates and their supporters shout slogans, distribute pamphlets and enter classrooms to interact with students. With no consolidated campus and a grievance cell of merely 4-5 members, enforcement is near impossible.

Clause 6.9.1
“Any instance of acute lawlessness or the commission of a criminal offense shall be reported to the police by the university or college"
 

Violence has become a routine by-product of the student body elections. Candidates accuse each other of violent politics.

At last I want to say to Winning as well as Losing Candidate that :

Students just want what you have promised to them.
They are just expecting for development and basic facilities in colleges, a better environment for studies and that's it.

" I know YOU CAN & YOU WILL "

Article by: Basant Singh Rawat : http://kumaonuniversity.blogspot.com