Chandigarh: Panjab University is likely to hold its student council elections on Aug 31, advancing the polls from the usual first week of Sept as the university’s earlier plan has run into security and scheduling constraints. The university has sent the proposal to UT administration.The university has proposed Aug 29 and Aug 31 as the two possible dates for the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council elections. However, Aug 29 faces opposition from student organisations, which have cited the lack of adequate time for campaigning. With several parties yet to announce their candidates, Aug 31 is now emerging as the more likely date.A senior PU official said the university had initially planned to hold the elections in Sept, as is generally the practice, but the situation had changed because of two major developments- farmer organisations announcing protests in Chandigarh from Sept 1 and the university’s Senate election schedule beginning from Sept 7.“The Sept dates are becoming difficult because of the security requirements for the farmer organisations’ protests from Sept 1 onwards, while the Senate election process is also beginning from Sept 7. We have therefore proposed Aug 29 and 31,” the official said.The university, according to the official, has discussed the matter with Chandigarh Police and the UT administration. It was conveyed to the university that arranging adequate police deployment in Sept could be difficult in view of the proposed farmer protests and the consequent security requirements.Last year, the PU student council elections were held on Sept 2.Student organisations, meanwhile, have objected to Aug 29. Leaders said most parties had not yet announced their candidates and that holding the election on Aug 29 would leave them with only a few days to campaign. With August 31 being the other date proposed by the university, it is consequently likely to be preferred.The university is also trying to balance the election schedule with the ongoing admission process. A senior official said August 22 and August 29 would be observed as working Saturdays, with admissions still under way.The decision is intended to ensure that pending admission-related work can continue while giving student organisations additional working days for campaigning. With August 29 already being a working Saturday, an election on August 31 would give the parties some additional time to mobilise after the university formally announces the schedule.The final decision on the student council election date is expected within a day or two after UT’s okay. “The date will be finalised shortly. Once the decision is taken, the election schedule will be announced and the code of conduct will come into force,” the senior official said.A September election would also leave little flexibility later in the month because of the Senate elections. The Senate schedule released by the university shows that the first elections are proposed for September 7, followed by polls involving university professors on September 14 and affiliated Arts college constituencies and registered graduates on September 20. Elections by various faculties of the university are proposed for October 4.The Senate election process has become another reason for PU to avoid pushing the student council polls deeper into September, with the university expected to be occupied with election-related administrative and security arrangements.BOX- Senate polls leave little room for September student electionsThe PU Senate election schedule has further narrowed the window for holding the student council polls in September.Sept 7: Principals of technical and professional collegesSept 14: Professors, associate professors and assistant professors of PU teaching departmentsSept 20: Heads and teachers of affiliated Arts colleges; registered graduatesOct 4: Elections by various faculties of the university
