Panjab University: Politicians coax faculty members to garner votes for their groups

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, September 1

While student leaders and candidates are trying their best to woo voters ahead of elections to the Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC), some are also holding meetings with faculty members and Senate fellows to get the results in their favour. Being a Sunday, it was a perfect time for student party leaders to meet teachers at their residences, without attracting eyeballs. While the candidates are busy canvassing among students, senior party leaders are making these last-minute efforts to sway the votes to their side.

According to observers on the university campus, faculty members were in a dilemma as a party was riddled with factionalism. While a senior politician from Punjab has asked one teacher to support the main faction, another teacher, who was said to be aligned towards the main group earlier, may deviate towards the breakaway faction. Even the Senate members are being rung up by old students and their friends in politics asking for their support.

With the teachers too being divided into factions and many sharing connections with mainstream political leaders, some are under the pressure to support a particular candidate or party. “Faculty members on the campus, especially seniors, have research scholars who are on good terms with students. These teachers can make a difference of 200-300 votes easily,” said a senior student leader.

“In a number of departments, teachers are divided on the basis of ideology and political affiliation. Teachers’ union too has factions. Students seeking admission to PhD or research scholars pursuing PhD would generally toe the line of their guide or guide to be,” the leader added.

“The presidentship of the student council is a cradle to politics for a student. For mainstream politicians, the election this time has become a way to settle scores. That is why everybody wants to leave no stone unturned before September 5. Old students and party leaders who share a rapport with the faculty members are here to meet them and seek their support,” said an old student of the campus.

Not just teachers, but the non-teaching employees are also being approached for support. Recently, the Punjab University Staff Association president had uploaded a status on a social media platform requesting his fellow staffers to support the ABVP presidential candidate. He had asked other members to convey to their wards and family members’ to support the candidate.