The Gujarat University (GU) Senate elections — held for eight faculties on Sunday — began with a case being filed at the Naranpura police station after Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) students clashed over sticking of posters at the Nav Gujarat Commerce College, one of the voting centres, on Saturday night. The election results will be declared on Tuesday.
Though voting across the eight faculties was reported to be around 80 to 90 per cent in centres across the city, some canditates have reportedly spent huge amounts on election campaingning.
A senior GU Executive Council member expressed displeasure over the increased expenditure on elections. “A new trend has emerged in the last two to three years. Candidates spend a lot of money on elections, but do not work out a well-planned agenda. The actual level of leadership that should come at the college level is not being developed as most candidates are not interested in leadership beyond satisfaction of their egos,” said the Executive Council member on the condition of anonymity.
Student leaders, however, maintained they were moving towards fair elections. ABVP state president Kunal Shah said: “An undergraduate commerce candidate has spent a good deal of money on the election, while others have spent decent amounts. We are stressing on manifestos rather than going overboard with spending.”
NSUI leaders, meanwhile, termed it as the first truly democratic elections under the guidance of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and and NSUI in-charge Rahul Gandhi.
NSUI vice-president Devsi Modhvadia said: “Apart from routine costs, we have not spent lavishly this time on transporting voters. We have spent money on making a core team working behind each candidate. We were of the view that even if we got fewer votes, we will work towards ending the use of undemocratic means for elections.”
Courtesy : www.indianexpress.com
Though voting across the eight faculties was reported to be around 80 to 90 per cent in centres across the city, some canditates have reportedly spent huge amounts on election campaingning.
A senior GU Executive Council member expressed displeasure over the increased expenditure on elections. “A new trend has emerged in the last two to three years. Candidates spend a lot of money on elections, but do not work out a well-planned agenda. The actual level of leadership that should come at the college level is not being developed as most candidates are not interested in leadership beyond satisfaction of their egos,” said the Executive Council member on the condition of anonymity.
Student leaders, however, maintained they were moving towards fair elections. ABVP state president Kunal Shah said: “An undergraduate commerce candidate has spent a good deal of money on the election, while others have spent decent amounts. We are stressing on manifestos rather than going overboard with spending.”
NSUI leaders, meanwhile, termed it as the first truly democratic elections under the guidance of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and and NSUI in-charge Rahul Gandhi.
NSUI vice-president Devsi Modhvadia said: “Apart from routine costs, we have not spent lavishly this time on transporting voters. We have spent money on making a core team working behind each candidate. We were of the view that even if we got fewer votes, we will work towards ending the use of undemocratic means for elections.”
Courtesy : www.indianexpress.com
