PU restores Feb 28 date for students’ union polls

Patna: It is official now. Elections to the Patna University Students’ Union (PUSU) for 2025-26 will be held as scheduled on Feb 28.PU withdrew its Saturday’s notification regarding postponement of the elections and displayed a fresh notification for the conduct of elections as scheduled on its website on Monday.PUSU chief returning officer Shankar Kumar said the decision to hold the elections as scheduled was taken following a meeting of all the contestants with the central election committee members and their written undertaking that they would not violate the model code of conduct during campaigning.They criticised the indecent behaviour of some students with a Patna Science College teacher and also the act of taking out a procession at Patna Women’s College carrying banners and shouting slogans.

They also furnished an undertaking that stern action would be taken against a candidate if he or she is found violating the code of conduct any time during the course of campaigning. It was also decided that the campaigning for the PUSU elections will come to an end at 5pm on Feb 26.The final list of contestants for various offices of the union were also released by PU on Monday afternoon. The number of contestants for various key offices are president (11), vice-president (8), general secretary (9), joint secretary (6) and treasurer (7).

Besides, as many as 32 candidates are contesting for 22 seats of union council membership. Immediately after the announcement of the contestant’s list, the campaigning for the students union elections gained momentum on Monday afternoon.The student wings of almost all political parties have fielded candidates in the election. The organisations contesting the elections for various offices include Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Chhatra JD(U), National Students’ Union of India, All India Students Federation, Student Federation of India, All India Students Association, Chhatra Jan Adhikar Party and Chhatra Jan Suraj party.PU has already requisitioned from the state election office ballot boxes and indelible ink to be used in the elections, said Kumar.The university has also requested the district administration to depute additional police force on the campus in the wake of PUSU elections. Police patrolling is likely to be introduced around the colleges, university departments, hostels well before the start of polling till the declaration of results, he said.