Other States - Himachal Pradesh   

Poll campaign at its peak in University

Kanwar Yogendra

Despite strict disciplinary conditions imposed by the authorities

SHIMLA: Despite massive disciplinary conditions imposed by the State administration and the University authorities in the campus this time there appears to be no laxity on the part of students engaged in campaigning for the upcoming elections on Saturday in Himachal University and allied colleges.

The authorities have banned all rallies, assemblies or conventions inside the university campus and students' hostels. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC have been promulgated in all colleges and the university campus from August 14 to 26. The university campus is full of police personnel and special reserve battalions have been called for the day of polling.

But nothing has dampened the enthusiasm of students who wait impatiently for this day to exercise their right of franchise that they had earned with a great deal of effort. The student elections have been banned twice in the past by the Virbhadra Singh government taking the plea of violence on the campus but actually because of dismal performance of the Congress-backed students' body, NSUI, feel the other student organisations. There is always a tough fight between the Left-backed Students' Federation of India and the BJP-supported Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parshad on the University campus and all main colleges of the State and the Congress Government-supported National Students' Union of India is a poor third. The NSUI has not won even a single seat in the main SCA panel in the history of Himachal Pradesh University, according to Dr. Vijay Kaushal, a former SFI secretary and now a teacher.

The SFI and ABVP leaders on the campus have strongly condemned the unexpected announcement of elections and the subsequent imposition of severe restrictions on student gatherings and canvassing of any kind. The students' organisations polarised mainly on ideological lines also take up day-to-day student problems in these annual elections. The recent question paper leakage scam in the Combined Pre-Medical Test has been the main issue this time round and has been invoked vehemently by the leading organisations on the campus. The students had demanded a through enquiry into the leakage scam and ouster of the Vice-Chancellor and the Controller of Examinations from the university. Amidst protests the Vice-Chancellor left on a visit to Thailand for a meeting and the CoE resigned under students' pressure.

The State Secretariat of the CPI (M) has condemned the district administration for promulgating Section 144 CrPC in the university and affiliated colleges. Calling it an "Emergency-like situation", the party has ridiculed the Congress regime in the State for creating this situation "after observing the belligerent anti-government mood of the student community".

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