Cuttack, Sept. 21: Political activities are beginning to warm up at Ravenshaw University as the date for college union elections approaches.

The university authorities issued a notice yesterday that students’ union polls would be held on September 29, the same date as fixed by the higher education department for elections in colleges across the state.

University registrar Smarapriya Mishra said a committee and another core panel would be constituted to conduct a free-and-fair election. Recommendations of the Lyngdoh Commission would also be strictly adhered to and adequate security measures would be taken to ensure that the maximum number of students take part in the election, the registrar added.

According to the notification, a candidate can file his nomination papers between 9am and 12pm on September 22. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on the same day between 2pm and 4pm. The list of valid nomination papers will be published at 11am on September 23. Students can withdraw their candidatures between 2pm and 4pm the same day. The final list of candidates will be published at 5pm.

The “What I stand for” meeting will be held on September 28, followed by voting the next day. After counting of votes, the results will be declared the same evening.

The election hopefuls are busy making a list of things that they would change or improve if elected. “I will take up various development issues and problems of inadequate lecturers, classrooms and other matters to strike a chord with the students,” said Manoj Panda, a presidential aspirant.

The aspirants and their friends have begun preparations for campaigning and appealing to other students to cast votes in their favour. “Since we have a little over a week to go, we are trying to chalk out strategies to reach out to the maximum number of students,” said Srikant Parida, another aspirant.