Patna: The poll process has got into high gear as February 17, the day of the Patna University Students' Union elections, nears. The nominations for the election started on Wednesday, and various students' bodies contesting the polls were making last-minute tweaks in finalising the candidates, and filling nominations.
The RSS youth wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which won the president's post in the last elections held in 2012, on Wednesday announced its list of candidates for the central panel and the executive members. It has fielded Manikant Mani Yadav, a bachelor in mass communication (BMC) student from Patna College, for the president's post, Yushita Patwardhan from Magadh Mahila College for vice-president, Sudhanshu Jha of Patna Science College for general secretary, Mukesh Yadav, a journalism and mass communication student, for treasurer. The ABVP will announce the secretary post candidate on Thursday.
ABVP state joint secretary Sujit Kumar said tickets have been given "to such candidates who are associated with the organisation for several years and are active in university politics." Sources, however, said that differences have emerged among some ABVP leaders who have been left out.
"The ABVP state core committee in consultation with the university office decided on the names," Sujit said.
The Left student organisations, which have decided to put up a united fight, also announced their list of candidates on Tuesday evening.
The All India Students' Federation, the youth wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI), will contest three seats. In two other seats All India Students' Association (Aisa), the students' wing of CPI (Marxist-Leninist), will contest. The Left candidates are Mitu Kumari (Aisa) for president, Anuskha Arya (AISF) for vice-president, Mukesh Kumar (AISF) for general secretary, Sanjeet Kumar (AISF) for secretary, and Faiz Akhtar (Aisa) for treasurer.
"Our candidates could not file their nomination today (on Wednesday) due to the lengthy process," said Sushil Kumar, AISF state general secretary. "The Left parties have announced their candidates but for filing nomination, a candidate has to make a declaration before first class executive magistrate that he or she is not in a job. Then they have get an affidavit sign from notary, followed by the college/department head's signature about 75 per cent attendance. Then, with all the documents, the candidate has to file the nomination at the Wheeler Senate Hall."
The Chhatra RJD and the Congress's National Students Union of India too have joined hands.
Students said security arrangements for the nominations are tight. A candidate can enter the nomination hall only along with two persons proposing the candidate's name.
