Bhubaneswar, July 19: The authorities of Ravenshaw University have come up with a plan to introduce indirect mode of election for the students' union from the current academic session.

The authorities issued a notification on Tuesday announcing that a committee will be constituted in this regard. They have asked students, parents and civil society members to e-mail their views by July 22, which the committee will take into account for a final decision on the plan.

The notification said that direct elections are "an impediment to quality education, as the campus remains disturbed for almost a month affecting the teaching activities". A source said the idea was first mooted on July 4 during the staff council meeting.

However, various student wing organisations opposed the move and alleged the vice-chancellor of the university came up with the plan after two factions of the students' wing of the BJD merged this year. Sources said leaders of one faction was included in the youth wing of the BJD recently while the other faction got a major portfolio in the students' wing of the party.

"The two factions were being managed by two Cuttack MLAs for the past several years and both factions have been fielding separate candidates. But under in these circumstances both of them cannot field separate candidates. However, the supporters of both factions have been at loggerheads for the past few years. The university authorities have decided to go for indirect election to help the ruling party," alleged state secretary of Akhil Bhartiya Bidyarthi Parishad Avilash Panda.

Several faculty members also opposed the idea of indirect election. "This will definitely deprive students of their democratic rights. If violence is the only the criterion then university authorities should stop the involvement of political leaders in the election instead of opting for indirect mode of election," said a faculty member of the varsity on condition of anonymity.

Students also threatened to stage demonstrations if the authorities conducted indirect elections. "Violence takes place on the Delhi University campus and th eJawaharlal Nehru University campus. The Ravenshaw University authorities are trying to cover up their inability to control campus tension," said Veenth Varun, a third-year commerce student.

Vice-chancellor of the university Prakash Chandra Sarangi denied any political intention behind the proposal. "The campus has witnessed frequent incidents of violence during student union polls creating impediment in quality education.

"So, the proposal was mooted by the executive council and subsequently a committee of senior professors will go through the views of the stakeholders and furnish a recommendation. After getting the recommendation, a final decision will be taken," Sarangi said.

He also said other universities in the state such as the Fakir Mohan University and the Gangadhar Meher University have already introduced indirect mode of election for the students' union.