Recent PUCSC elections witnessed one of the
most dramatic end ever. The culminating day comprised of 59% polling on a rainy
day, clash between SOI and NSUI supporters, later a theatrical end at STU-C. Both
the PUSU & NSUI supporters reached STU-C (hooting and raising slogans)
claiming themselves as winners, followed by some leaders of SOI. The drama went
on for an hour till the DSW came out with the result. But not the final! He asked
that the margin between the top two contenders is less than 100. The result
came out two rainy hours later after recounting. Presidential candidate of NSUI
alliance was announced winner with 2249 over SOI alliance candidate with 58
votes & the PUCSC panel was elected on a rainy day.
The mad race for PUCSC elections started a
couple of months ago. Student organizations started mobilizing their work force
by organizing ‘help desk’ during the admission process, distributing admission
& hostel forms for free. What runs parallel is the struggle for claiming
leadership by projecting themselves on notice boards with posters declaring
themselves as general secretaries, presidents, campus presidents, state
presidents, vice presidents, chief patron etc. & the list goes further. The
organizations that have been inactive for the whole academic year posture as the
most active and progressive. The largest number of ‘Memorandum Submissions
& Protests’ were submitted in last two months as compared to the whole last
year. Ironically majority of the participants were outsiders comprised of
relatives and friends of ‘the leaders’ having nothing to do with the issues. Lakhs
of rupees were spent on feeding this ‘work force’ & the package came with a
‘bonus of hooliganism’, violent clashes, use of sharp weapons & muscle
power.
The syllabus and time table was distributed
to lure students as the classes started. Accommodation in hostels was ‘promised’ and
students’ issues were being ‘raised’. Further methods such as befriending them
on the basis of region, relatives or community etc. are used every time. Afterwards
the “FUN COMES TO PU” phase started, the cars with posters rally all around in
the campus to generate a ‘wave in their favor’. The leaders appeared in the
classrooms to address the students highlighting their ‘achievements’ and made
huge promises. The students were offered every form of ‘enjoyment’ like
watching movies in multiplexes for free, free trips to Kasauli, Shimla, Chail, Thunder
Zone, Fun-city for free to enjoy them in the water parks, cradle and hammocks
etc. Apart from these other type of freebies were presented which comprised of
organizations’ account at STU-C, night food streets, hostels etc. & Coffee invitations at five star
hotels, disc parties etc. Expensive liquor, opium etc. were served to
the students (youth!).
