PU elections: Student leaders go vocal for local

Looking to build a rapport with the diverse varsity crowd, comprising youngsters from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and other distant parts of the country, student leaders are leaving no stone unturned. They can be spotted donning the \Ipahari topi\Is during interactions one day and heard talking to students in Haryanvi the next.

Even within Punjab, distinctions are traced back to Doaba, Malwa and Majha. At the heart of the strategy is the shared aim of student parties expanding beyond their traditional vote bank.

Notably, the varsity boasts of several parties to whom regional identity was the founding principle. While parties like HIMSU and HPSU have a dedicated base among students from Himachal, HSA and INSO find firm backing from Haryana-based students.

It was natural for bigger parties, even those backed by national political parties such as the Congress, the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party to understand the value of “regional” groups.

“There are many political groups representing states. If we talk about Himachal and Haryana, at least two groups each represent their interests. Punjab finds representation in multiple parties given the deep-rooted connection with state politics…so the PUCSC elections are not just to elect the student body, but a mandate of regional politics as well,” said Gaurav, a student of political science studying in a Sector-26 college.

His classmate, Poonam added, “We do observe the representatives of various political groups carrying their ‘agenda’ at the Student Centre and campus hostels, the way of approaching the voters clearly indicates the importance of native region.”

A sense of familiarity also helps build kinship in an age of factions and political differences. “There are two groups from Haryana (INSO, HSA) and two from Himachal (HIMSU, HPSU) as well. Groups from Leh-Ladakh are equally active. Despite limited strength, they are given due importance because of the ground presence of the parties,” said Praveen Sharma, a student from Himachal who added that he was enjoying being part of such a dynamic election.

“Let’s not forget about the outfits backed by Punjab’s political parties and students from Uttar Pradesh, the North East. Perhaps, the university is the only centre in the region where voters come from such diverse backgrounds come together to elect a council,” he said, adding that the PUCSC election is no less than a microcosm for larger national politics.