Bhubaneswar, Oct. 6: While almost all recommendations of the Lyndoh committee are being flouted during the ongoing students union elections, it seems that the only formula that university and college authorities have been overenthusiastic about is of "violence" on campuses.
All other rules - particularly those related to the involvement of political parties in college union elections - have been overlooked.
Political parties do not hesitate to openly announce their "candidates" and display their money and muscle power to ensure their victory. While colleges and universities can do little about the political interference part, they often hang on to the "attendance" criteria while scrutinising the nominations.
All this has failed the very purpose of the recommendations that ware framed with the intention to bring in discipline in student union elections.
The polls have, therefore, continued to be chaotic both for common students and helpless college authorities. Pre-poll incidents such as bomb attacks and assault on students have led to the cancellation of elections at both Utkal University and the newly formed Ramadevi University.
Similarly, low attendance has led to the cancellation of elections at Maharishi College, where the authorities have declared the institution closed till further notice. At City Women College and Ekamra College, the authorities have decided not to hold the elections because of the lack of infrastructure.
Polls have also been called off at SCS College in Puri, Dhamnagar College in Bhadrak and Marshaghai College in Kendrapara. While Dhamnagar College authorities have shut the institution because of students' violence, the Marshaghai College has been closed indefinitely.
Experts say that despite the provision of "indirect elections" - in which students are elected unanimously on basis of merit - it has failed to gain popularity as both student bodies as well as the political parties want direct elections.
"While everyone seems to be turning a blind eye to the affiliation of political parties, the colour combination of posters clearly reveals it. While green is for BJD, a saffron tinges announces the candidate's affiliation to the BJP. It's a truth everyone knows, but prefers to remain indifferent," said Charchit Behera, a student at Utkal University where the elections have been cancelled.
The BJP's student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal and the Congress-backed NSUI have been blaming each other for widespread violence and cancellation of elections at several colleges and Utkal University.
It is another matter that most nominations have been cancelled because of "insufficient attendance". However, candidates have blamed faculty members for not updating attendance registers.
"Some teachers do not mark the attendance of students who support parties against which the faculty member has a bias. This leads to cancellation of their nomination," said Paradeep Patra, a contestant from Rourkela College whose papers has been cancelled.
Student leaders, however, agreed that clashes and violence increase on certain days, including when nominations are filed.
Allegations of students being threatened and not allowed to file nomination paper are common. Although many of these cases go unreported, sources said that goons were hired to terrorise opponents through phone calls or even using weapons.
Sources said that while most candidates promise the "moon" to their supporters, once the election is won they make rounds of various departments to demand percentage in contract jobs, both in the university and outside.
These union leaders reportedly insist on a four-wheeler and compel the authorities to fund its expenses. There have been allegations of how student leaders at a particular university have been using the ambulance meant for the dispensary to go out and party till late night.
Violence cannot stop unless the authorities and police take a strong stand. Like in the case of Utkal University, everyone wanted to shrug off responsibility. Although the police had informed the authorities about outsiders staying in hostels and creating violence, nothing was done to flush them out. These elements are also thriving with active support of the ruling party. There have been complaints against the outsiders, but the cops did not take any action. As long as this system continues, there will be violence
Satyajit Patnaik
NSUI
Those who have little chance of winning the polls often conspire to create turmoil. We are also worried about the violence and don’t want it. The kind of problem that Utkal University is facing today is the result of a conspiracy hatched by other student outfits. They want to destroy peace. We are opposed to this
Tanmay Swain
Biju Chhatra Janata Dal
Most of the time, the authorities do nothing despite knowing who the trouble-makers are. The police also act like a cowardice and do not act on the pretext of lack of evidence and witnesses. In such a situation, who will check violence? Ultimately, the democratic rights of students are getting hampered
Govind Nayak
Organising secretary ABVP
The problem lies with Lyndoh Commission guidelines that empower college authorities to cancel the elections. Often mischievous students create disturbances to scare the authorities and compel them to cancel elections. This “violence” is often not meant to attack or injure anyone, but simply terrorise authorities
Byomkesh Tripathy
MLA
Student union elections should be considered an intellectual process and peace must exist on the campus for the sake of democracy. There should be brotherhood, understanding and positive energy on the campus
Pradeep Panigrahi
Higher education minister
LYNGDOH RULEBOOK
Excerpts from the recommendations of former Chief Election Commissioner JM Lyngdoh to clean up campus polls
♦ Candidates should have 75 per cent attendance
♦ Must have cleared all exams
♦ No involvement of political parties
♦ Poll expenses not to exceed Rs 5000
♦ Ban on campaign through posters, banners and hoardings after issue of notification
♦ Ban on use of printed posters, printed pamphlets, or any other printed material for canvassing. Candidates may only use hand-made posters within expenditure limit
♦ On poll day, candidates cannot serve or distribute eatables, or other solid and liquid consumables, except water
♦ All candidates should be jointly responsible to clean up polling area within 48 hours of end of polling
