After the political stagnation of nearly four years,Jawaharlal Nehru University is abuzz with activity. A month after the Supreme Court vacated the stay on JNU students union elections,the university general body met on Monday to debate the roadmap for the elections. All parties agree that elections on campus would be an interim arrangement to restore the students union to continue the fight against Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. While NSUI,ABVP,AISA,AISF and SFI stood united for the cause of conducting elections on campus. At least four parties DSU,PSU,SFR and KNS have taken a different stand on the polls. A member of DSU (Democratic Students Union) Srirupa said holding elections polls with just deviations from the Lyngdoh report will only compromise the movement. According to DSU,the current solution to the unique movement of JNU would be to conduct elections according to JNUSU constitution and give the Joint Struggle Committee (JSC) the status of a students union,as an interim arrangement. The PSU (Progressive Students Union) has taken a firm stand and said it will not participate in any elections that are held in accordance with Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. PSU member Divya said,If elections are not held as per the JNUSU constitution,we will boycott the election. PSU was not part of the team that negotiated with the amicus curiae to seek relaxations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations as any negotiation would mean acceptance of Lyndoh at some level,while the party rejects Lyngdoh completely. The JSC sought seven relaxations from the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and three were accepted. The maximum age limit for M Phil/Ph D students has been increased from 28 years to 30 years,there will be no requirement for attendance to contest elections and photocopied material would be allowed in election campaign subject to an expenditure limit of Rs 5,000 per candidate. However,the other exemptions suggested in the petition to the amicus curiae were not granted.
