Candidates flash the victory sign after filing nomination papers for the Patna University Students’ Union election on Saturday. Picture by Jai Prakash

Patna, Dec. 1: Independent and students’ body candidates swarmed the Patna University premises today, the second day of filing nominations for the students’ union election.

In an overwhelming response, 169 candidates filed nomination papers for 23 posts, including five key posts at the university-level and 18 executive posts. The university-level key posts include that of the president, vice-president, general secretary, secretary and treasurer.

Right from morning, candidates backed by students’ organisations started reaching the varsity administrative block. By 12 noon, the footfall for filing the nomination papers took a leap. Usha Kiran, a chemistry honours student from Magadh Mahila College contesting the president’s post backed by the newly formed All India Backward Students Forum, reached the university campus along with supporters. After filing her nomination paper, Kiran said: “Academic improvement alo-ng with launch of bus service for varsity students will be my foremost priority.”

Minutes later, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) supporters arrived with their presidential candidate, Ashish Sinha, the son of BJP MLA Arun Kumar Sinha from Kumhrar Assembly constituency, for filing nomination. Raising slogans such as Bharat Mata ki Jai, the ABVP supporters claimed that their party would win all five key posts along with executive-level posts at various colleges and departments.

By 2pm, the Patna University administrative block was teeming with students as candidates backed by students’ organisations such as the All India Students Association, All India Students’ Federation (AISF), students’ wings of RJD and JD(U) started reaching the campus.

The students’ wings of RJD and JD(U), which till a few days back were openly opposing the students’ union election demanding changes in the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, finalised the list of candidates on Saturday. Swati Sneha, a mass communication student from Patna Women’s College is fighting for the post of president supported by the JD(U) students’ wing, while Satyavir Kumar, a postgraduate in psychology, is fighting for the vice-president’s post.

The NSUI too has fielded Riya Raj, a philosophy undergraduate student from Patna Women’s College, for the presidential post. RJD has backed Vidyanand, a postgraduate history student, as its presidential candidate.

A minor group clash erupted between students’ organisations. Some boarders of Patna College hostels attacked AISF candidates on the campus when they were returning after filing nominations. However, police intervened and contained the situation.

Students were seen switching over to other parties or forming students’ organisations of their own after being denied support by their parent party which they have served for years.

Sumant Kumar, Diraj Yadav and Sanjeev Sardar, all students of Patna Law College who were associated with the RJD students’ wing for years, are now backing candidates of All India Backward Students’ Forum.

Amit Sinha, owing allegiance to ABVP till last evening, today filed nomination for the secretary’s post from Patna University Students’ Campus forum.

Students can withdraw their nominations on December 3 and 4, while voting and counting will be held on December 11.