College student council elections that were held after five years remained an event for a year only as no clear orders about polls have been issued till date. Senior officials of the higher education department confirmed that there has been no clarity on the elections till date. Generally elections for students’ councils are held in the month of October and programme releases a month ahead of it.
Sources in the department relate silence on students’ council elections with the upcoming assembly elections to be held later this year. “Government is serious about its image. If anything untoward happens during students’ elections, it might have an adverse impact on the assembly polls,” said a senior official wishing anonymity.
Student wings of political parties are active in colleges trying to increase the number of members of their outfits. The NSUI owing allegiance to the Congress party and the ABVP offshoot of the RSS are playing active roles in colleges and the universities. The college administration though say they are all prepared to hold elections as soon as the announcement is made but do admit off the record that it seems highly unlikely in view of assembly elections. NSUI spokesperson Vivek Tripathi alleges that government is on the back foot and therefore trying to avoid it.
