With just two days remaining for the students’ election, the Rajasthan University campus saw a frenzy of activities as student wings of various political parties were seen canvassing for their candidates.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) released its manifesto. Interestingly, the ABVP has not been able to win a student presidential election in the last five years. This year, however, they are looking to change the course.
Hushyaar Meena, national secretary of the ABVP, stated that the organization’s primary goal will be to open the campus’s newly constructed library. ABVP also promised to make the women’s campus secure. They also plan to install more CCTV cameras on the university campus. They also promised repair and maintenance of hostels.
ABVP’s presidential candidate, Narendra Yadav, said, “It is not about one year, but I have been working on the campus for many years. We have taken the problems of students to the administration and political heads of the state. I am sure that we will win this year.”
Around 20,000 students will vote in the Rajasthan University Student Union elections. Students studying in the four constituent colleges – Maharaja College, Maharani College, Commerce College, and Rajasthan College – along with post-graduate students at the university, will be voting in the elections.
Ritu Barala, the presidential candidate of the National Student Union of India (NSUI), organised a large rally on the university campus. Barala, who had been a student body president at Maharani College, expressed her confidence in winning the election.
Like most student elections, the Rajasthan University Student Union election is considered a stepping stone for budding political leaders. Many political leaders have cut their teeth in student elections before making a name for themselves at the state or national level.
Experts believe that anyone winning the elections gets the direct attention of the political class. Winning student body elections also strengthens a candidate’s chance of getting a ticket in the state assembly election or municipal corporation election.
The voting for the Rajasthan University student body will be conducted on August 26 and the results will be announced on August 27.