Patna, Jan. 24: The election for Patna University (PU) senate this year is set to be a clash between old horses and young guns.
The polls are scheduled on February 4. Ten members would be elected that day. Sources said there is a keen contest for the coveted posts in the varsity’s governing body between senior teachers and young instructors, who were absorbed into the university services in 2003.
While history teacher Amarnath Singh is leading the senior group’s campaign, the junior teachers have the backing of Patna University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) general secretary Randhir Kumar Singh.
Most of the teachers in the senior group, including B.K. Jamuhar, Balram Tiwari, Seema Prasad and Israel Reza, are former PUTA members. The younger group opposing them comprises Suheli, Rupam, Nand Lal Paswan, Dilip Verma and Kamlesh Kumar.
Sources said the contest is most keen for the postgraduate senate posts. Department of personnel management and industrial relations teacher Sarad Parwal, ancient history teacher Jamuhar and Hindi department teacher Tiwari are contesting for the two general-category posts. Postgraduate Urdu teacher Reza, postgraduate political science teacher Prasad and commerce department teacher Saeed Alam are in the fray for the single OBC post.
The contest is not devoid of political colour either. Both the ruling coalition and the opposition parties have put their weight behind candidates.
A senior university teacher told The Telegraph: “Tiwari and Virendra Kumar are associated with the saffron brigade. Some BJP leaders have extended their support to them.”
As the date of the elections draws near, the candidates are leaving no stone unturned to garner votes.
Tiwari told The Telegraph: “It is very important to select the right members to the senate for it is a very significant body. It not only raises issues concerning teachers but also passes the university budget.”
PU senate has 106 members. The principals of all the constituent colleges, all postgraduate department heads, deans of science, social science, humanities, commerce and law faculties are ex-officio members of the senate. The governing body, which has a meeting every year to discuss various issues related to the university, also has representatives of the chancellor and the state government.
Fifteen members are supposed to be elected by the teachers, but five of them won uncontested on January 19, the day of filing nominations.
Patna Women’s College faculty member Punam Kumari, Magadh Mahila College teacher Pushpanjali Khare, Vanijya Mahavidyalaya teacher Sapan Kumar won uncontested.
PU department of personnel management and industrial relations faculty member Govind Kumar and political science teacher Vinay Soren were also elected to the senate uncontested.
