There is no place for caste, community and creed in student poll, says Romana

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

Parambans Singh Bunty Romana (44), who is the Students Organisation of India (SOI) national convener and SAD spokesperson, is coordinating the PU students’ poll.

He fought the Punjab Assembly elections in 2017 on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) ticket from Faridkot, but lost.

He is a close confidant of former Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal. He along with Chandigarh SOI president Vicky Middukhera led the party to record victory in 2015. But the SOI slumped and lost in 2016 and 2017.

In an interview, Romana spoke about party prospects to Chandigarh Tribune.

We have been watching same people organising elections year after year for the SOI at the PU. What are the growth prospects of the passouts like Vicky Middukhera, Robin Brar?

You have missed it. During our rule in Punjab, we have made these leaders members of the Youth Development Board. They had a say in framing of policies for education and youth. As they started their career from the PU, so they come every year to help the party. It is only the party president who will decide whether they will get party tickets.

You won in 2015 because you had a good tie up with Haryana and Himachal Pradesh students-based parties. What is the strategy this year? You have not been able to rope in INSO, students’ wing of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

This year, we have announced the presidential candidate in advance. The other leaders in the party have extended him support. Other parties delay the declaration of contesting candidates as there is a rift between them. We will tie up with likeminded parties only. Recently, the Pal Pehalwan Students Organisation (PPSO) extended us unconditional support. Sometimes, parties put up conditions which you cannot agree to.

How much is your involvement in the elections?

It is student elections. About 90 per cent contribution is from the PU students, while 10 per cent help is extended by the passouts. My role is to guide or to extend any help if they need.

A lot of your leaders come from the Jat Sikh community in the SOI. There is a little representation of other castes.

We have given a chance to Piyush Anand Bawa and Harman Lubana in the past to contest as presidential candidates. They were not from the Jat Sikh community. There is no place for caste, community and creed in students’ polls. It is a different story that some people come in more limelight.

How much important are the PU elections for the SOI. What will happen if you lose third time in a row?

In 2015, we created history. The PU did not witness a presidential candidate (Jasmeen Kang) winning by such a huge margin. When we lost in 2016, none was expecting us to lose. If you think, we have lesser chances in 2018, you are set for a surprise.

Profile of SOI 

The SOI led a lacklustre campaign in 2017 and it could not even take out a rally. Its presidential candidate came fifth. 2018 will be a tougher election for the party. In 2014, it fought the first election and lost the president’s seat by a thin margin. In 2015, it won with a record margin. In 2016, it came second with the president’s post.