Unrest over BJP-affiliated persons occupying key posts at university

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 6

With key posts going to those affiliated with the RSS-BJP, there is unrest among a section of Senators in Panjab University (PU).

They say those with the leftist ideology should fight together to deny the BJP any chance in the upcoming Syndicate elections — slated to be held on December 16. For the Deans of various faculties, voting will take place on December 16 and December 17.

Displeasure among a section of Senators is because of the abolition of the Research Promotion Cell (RPC) and appointment of Prof SK Tomar as the Dean, Research. The tenure of the RPC was till November. Panjab University Teachers Association president Prof Rajesh Gill has opposed the appointment and called for giving priority to seniority.

A number of committees were formed last month to oversee the working of hostels and wardens were miffed.

A committee, including Prof Sanjay Kaushik, Dean, College Development Council, and Prof SK Tomar, was formed recently to oversee the working of the office of Controller of Examinations.

A section of Senators want that both group — headed by Prof Navdeep Goyal and Ashok Goyal — and the leftists should fight together to thwart BJP’s chances of winning the poll.

In 2017, Prof Navdeep Goyal’s group had a majority in the Syndicate — 13 of its members got elected to the 15-member House. That time, it had aligned with the BJP-affiliated Senators and also leftists. Eleven members of Navdeep Goyal’s group had got elected unopposed. In 2016, Prof Navdeep Goyal group had all its 15 members elected unopposed.

But the big question is whether arch rivals — Prof Navdeep Goyal and Ashok Goyal — would join hands? Both have affiliations with the Congress.