PU students’ election sees rampant norm violations

Five main points were noted at the meeting,which were told to be strictly prohibited,which include use of printed material for campaigning,use of vehicles with party posters,presence of outsiders in the University premises,disturbing classes for campaigning and using unauthorised places for the party stickers.

Printed material is being openly used for campaigning in the form of stickers,posters and banners. Even after having evidence that parties are using printed stickers which look like they have been written by hand but are actually printed,no action has been taken against them by the authorities.

A showcause notice was sent to SOPU,PUSU and INSO on Monday regarding this and the parties were to file their replies within 24 hours of accepting the notice. However,when asked,Kalpana Mahajan,Dean Students’ Welfare (Women),and overall in-charge of party expenditures,said,“The replies must have been filed but have not been checked by us yet. If we find irregularities,the parties will be disqualified”. On further questioning the modus operandi of the committee set up for monitoring expenditures of the parties,she said that any action can be taken against the parties only after the elections,as enough evidence against them cannot be collected before that.

The presence of outsiders was not to be allowed on campus. However,popular senior leaders of SOPU,PUSU,NSUI and INSO have been spotted in the last week,within the tents of the parties and also actively campaigning within the departments. On being questioned about the involvement of ‘outsiders’ in the poll process,SSP Naunihal Singh explained,“There is a difference between being present in the campus and being involved in the election process. Action cannot be taken if they have not been campaigning.”

Vehicles with party stickers are still found in abundance within the University premises. The parties have removed printed stickers and replaced them with hand-made ones.

The UT had,however,decided that petrol charges of all vehicles which have party stickers will be included in expenditure. According to one party member,“If this is strictly implemented,then the petrol cost of just 10 cars will exceed the specified budget. The major parties are using at least 20 vehicles of their workers”.

Said a security staff,“If the nominations of parties are cancelled,it will lead to bigger protests which could be violent. This is why even the authorities fear taking severe action against parties. Many guidelines remain on paper only. So students are adequately warned but not provoked enough to become violent.”