Chandigarh: Not allowed to campaign in PU hostels, students hold protest

Student groups organised a protest outside Panjab University girls’ hostel number 4 after they were allegedly stopped from campaigning inside hostels late Friday evening. The protest came after female students of the Sath party and All India Students Association (AISA) were denied entry for electioneering. One of the protesters said female students were allowed to enter girls’ hostels till 9 pm, but they were stopped.

Polling at Panjab University will be held on August 31.

Further, they alleged that pamphlets and stickers of a party were found pasted inside the hostel. While raising slogans, they alleged that the authorities were being biased by allowing only one organisation to campaign in hostels.

Dean student selfare YK Rawal said students highlighted some minor issues which were settled amicably. The DSW called a meeting with the wardens regarding election-related rules. A professor familiar with the matter, but wishing not to be named, said that once elections are declared, the DSW is supposed to hold a meeting with the wardens to inform them about the rules.

While elections were declared on Thursday, the meeting was held on Saturday. Until the meeting is held, the wardens are supposed to follow the norms laid down in the rulebook for hostels.

On Saturday evening, a protest was organised at the Students’ Centre, where supporters of Sath and Punjabnama raised slogans against various political parties. They criticised MP Deepender Singh Hooda for paying tribute to 1984 riot convict Sajjan Kumar, who recently died.

Bidhan is ABVP’s pick for president’s post

ABVP has announced Ankit Bidhan as its candidate for the presidential seat. Bidhan has been an active party member since 2021. He completed his graduation in Jind, Haryana, and pursued his studies at PU’s law department. He is currently a research scholar at the Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion.

ABVP will be looking to repeat its result from last year, after Gauravveer Singh Sohal won the PUCSC president’s post, a historic first for the party.

The newly formed Panjab University Democratic Front announced Armaan Singh Bhinder as its pick for the vice-president’s seat. Other major parties, including the National Students Union of India, Association of Students for Alternative Politics and Sath, have also announced their candidates and started campaigning. Filing of nominations will start on Monday, while the final list will be out on Tuesday. Polling will be held on August 31.