Patna : Voting for the Patna University student union elections began at 8 am on Saturday, with 19,000 students expected to cast their votes to elect candidates for five key posts — president, vice-president, general secretary, joint secretary, and treasurer.
Candidates and Voting Process
Seven candidates are vying for the position of president. The contenders include Priyanka Kumari from Chhatra RJD, Laxmi Kumari from AIDSO, Hrithik Roshan and Manoranjan Raja from NSUI, Vishwajeet Kumar from AISA, Maithili Mrinalini from ABVP, and independent candidate Dheeraj Kumar.
Voting is taking place at 14 booths across the campus, with six ballot boxes placed at each site. Students are marking their preferences on coloured papers and dropping them into the designated slip boxes. The voting process will conclude at 2 pm, after which the counting will begin. The results are expected by late evening.
High Turnout in Women’s Colleges
Patna Women’s College has already witnessed over 100 votes being cast, while Magadh Mahila College has recorded 120 votes out of 500 registered voters so far.
Security Tightened Across Campus
Security has been significantly tightened across the campus, with police personnel deployed at all key entry and exit points, particularly at the gates of women’s colleges. Officers are closely monitoring the situation to prevent any untoward incidents.
Key Issues at Stake
The election campaign has focused on several pressing issues affecting students. These include:
- Hostel Facilities: Students have raised concerns over the poor condition of hostels and the need for repairs. Demands have been made for the construction of new hostels and improved sanitation facilities.
- Academic Concerns: Regular classes, timely declaration of exam results, and an increase in digital education resources have been prominent campaign points.
- Safety and Discipline: Candidates have promised measures to curb anti-social activities on campus, improved security for female students, installation of CCTV cameras, and the establishment of a helpline.
- Financial Aid and Employment Opportunities: Students are also demanding increased scholarships for underprivileged students, transparency in semester and exam fees, and the strengthening of placement cells for better internship and job opportunities.
Election Timeline and Debates
The nomination process began on March 10 and concluded on March 19, followed by scrutiny on March 20. The final list of candidates was released on March 24. A presidential debate was held on March 27, where candidates presented their visions and agendas to the student body.
Past Results and Context
In the previous elections held in 2022, Janata Dal United (JDU) secured victory in four out of five key positions. Anand Mohan was elected president, defeating Shashvat Shekhar of NSUI. Vikramaditya Singh was chosen as vice-president, Sandhya Kumari as joint secretary, and Ravi Kant won the treasurer’s position. Vipul Kumar from Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) was elected general secretary.
