Senior officials of the state health department have invited protesting students of the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital for talks on Tuesday, but the students said they would not go without a formal invitation.
The students have been protesting to press the demand that the students’ union election at the college be held on December 22, as was announced earlier.
The authorities later deferred the election.
Five of the protesting students have been on hunger strike since 10am on Thursday.
A protesting student who has not joined the hunger strike said they were told to attend a meeting with health department officials on Tuesday.
“But it is a verbal invitation. We will go only if there is a written invitation,” the student said.
The hunger strike crossed over 80 hours by Sunday midnight and the health parameters of the five students, their friends said, are worsening.
“We are determined to go ahead with the protest till the authorities commit to holding the union election. We never wanted to start the hunger strike. The situation is such that five of us had to start the strike,” said another protesting student who is not part of the hunger strike.
Indranil Biswas, principal of the medical college, said on Sunday protesting students had been invited for talks with the health department and that efforts were on to find a solution to the impasse.
On Saturday, Biswas had said he had informed Nabanna about the situation.
The principal had earlier said the election could not be held on December 22 because of two reasons.
“The state finance department’s nod is needed to conduct the election.
The poll expenses are borne by the state government. I have been told that at a time when the state is taking austerity measures, expenses for the students’ union election may not be allowed. I have written to the government for permission to hold the election,” he said.
As for the second reason, he said: “Law and order arrangements are also necessary for the election. I have sought permission for law and order arrangements.”