Patna: Tension briefly flared at Patna University on Monday ahead of the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected office-bearers of the Patna University Students’ Union (PUSU). The swearing-in programme is scheduled to be held at Jayaprakash Hall at 3.30pm, where members of the central panel along with elected council representatives are expected to formally assume office.
The situation escalated shortly before the ceremony when student leader Rinkle Yadav allegedly locked the gate of the Senate Hall. The move temporarily disrupted preparations and triggered a brief commotion on campus. University authorities intervened soon after and said steps were being taken to ensure the event proceeds without further disruption.
Under the central panel, five office-bearers are set to take the oath of office and secrecy. Shantanu Shekhar will be sworn in as president, while Sifat Faiz will assume charge as vice-president. Khushi Kumari will take oath as general secretary, Abhishek Kumar as joint secretary, and Harshvardhan as treasurer. In addition to the central panel, 22 elected council members will also take the oath and begin their official tenure.
This year’s election marked a notable shift in campus politics. After a gap of 42 years, the National Students’ Union of India secured the president’s post. Shantanu Shekhar defeated Prince Kumar of the student wing of Janata Dal (United) by a margin of 1,496 votes, polling 2,896 votes against his opponent’s 1,400.
Other contests were also closely fought. Khushi Kumari of the National Students’ Union of India defeated Pratyush Raj of the Rashtriya Janata Dal student wing to win the general secretary post. Meanwhile, independent candidate Sifat Faiz edged past Ayush Harsh of the JD(U) student wing by 65 votes to secure the vice-president’s position.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad secured two key positions in the union. Abhishek Kumar won the joint secretary post by defeating Manowar Azam of NSUI by 392 votes, while Harshvardhan claimed the treasurer’s post after defeating Abhishek of the JD(U) student wing by 170 votes.
University officials said the brief disruption caused by the locking of the Senate Hall gate had been brought under control. With students and administrators gathering on campus since the morning, preparations were continuing to ensure the oath-taking ceremony takes place as scheduled.
