Demand to resume student elections gains momentum

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 19

The demand to resume student council elections in the state has gained momentum in recent months. The student council elections in higher educational institutions were stopped by the government over three decades ago, citing militancy.

Earlier, various student organisations, especially those with Left leanings, were demanding the resumption of student elections. However, the previous Congress and SAD-BJP governments didn’t pay heed to the issue.

The issue is now again being raised by organisations. Recently, the Punjab Radical Students’ Union held a seminar on the issue in Sunam and demanded that the student election process should be restored immediately.

The latest addition in this was an intervention by the Communist Party of India’s (CPI) Punjab unit. Joginder Dayal, national executive member of the CPI, has written a letter to the Punjab Governor and Chief Minister, demanding the resumption of student elections.

He said elections were stopped during the dark days of militancy but after restoration of peace in the state, six Assembly and Parliament elections had taken place. Similarly, several panchayat and local body elections were also held. “Then why a different treatment is being given to student elections?” he asked.

Citing JM Lyngdoh Committee recommendations underlining the importance of free and fair elections to student bodies, he said elections were key to creating a cadre of accomplished politicians for state and national politics.

The SAD, BJP and the Congress seemed to be in alliance on the issue and they did not want student elections as these would create politically sound leaders, he added. Student elections were stopped in the state in 1983 after beginning of militancy.