PUCSC polls: Another election at Panjab university, but parties make same set of promises

It is the election time at Panjab University and students are being promised what they had been assured year after year.

Groups contesting the PU Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections are attracting young voters with a ‘red carpet’ of some promises, which have been part of their manifestos for years now, but never fulfilled.

One of such promises is a synthetic athletic track, for which the university athletes have been waiting for nearly a decade. Every year, there is a mention of the facility in election manifestoes of contesting groups. The project is however in the pipeline for over nine years now.

The sidelights

After receiving complaints regarding traffic jams, the university authorities shifted the security check at Gate No. 2. The vehicles are now checked at the campus market entry point.

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As many as three political groups sought permission from the DSW to hold evening rallies in the hostels. The parties are planning to hold rallies on Sunday.

Some groups canvassed in classrooms and hostels.

Despite an advisory, visitors to the campus continued to bring restricted items. The university authorities continue to recover baseball bats and hockey sticks.

This year, major political groups, including ABVP and ASAP, have promised to press for a synthetic track. It will take years for the promise to turn into a reality considering the fact that it was for the university to decide on it.

Having won the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy several times, the university does not have a basic requirement of a synthetic track. The synthetic turf for hockey was introduced in 2017, which also came after missing various deadlines. Recently, the university planned to have another multipurpose hall, and started fencing the new cricket-cum-archery ground, which hosts inter-college and other tournaments related to the university departments.

Another poll promise of having an eco-friendly campus goes for a toss as well. Members of the political groups contesting the council elections continue to litter the campus during canvassing and hold poll rallies on four-wheelers.

The promises of hostel upgrade, air-conditioned mess halls, better gym equipment at hostels and improved transportation on the campus also regularly feature in poll manifestoes.

“It has been two years that I am listening to poll promises which cannot be fulfilled until the PU authorities decide to do so. Over the past few years, the synthetic track has been highlighted in elections manifestos without the parties realising that the local athletes and the sports fraternity have been demanding it for years now. Announcements such as hostels for all and better transport are not even discussed once the election gets over,” said Sudhanshu, a PU student.

“One of parties had announced to get a sanitary pad-vending machine for the campus. The promise remains unfulfilled. This year, some parties are talking about a 24x7 women’s help desk and better facilities for females, but ignoring the problem of water shortage in hostels during summers. In the recent past, no elected leader went on a strike demanding fulfilment of the promises their respective parties had announced,” added a female student wishing anonymity.

Another alliance

SOPU has announced their alliance with the Hindustan Student Association (HSA). While SOPU had announced the name of Ardas Kaur as its presidential candidate, Sahil Jangra from the HSA has been named as the alliance candidate for the post of general secretary.

Alliance leaders, in a joint statement, emphasised that the tie-up was not merely an electoral adjustment but a new beginning of student unity. They affirmed that both outfits would work towards addressing the problems of students, upholding democratic values and advancing PU students’ rights.