By IANS
Chandigarh : The din of election campaign ended in the Panjab University and its affiliated colleges here Sunday but a low voter turnout is expected by most student organizations for the students’ council election Monday.
With the weekend holiday and the coming Diwali festival around the corner, many hostellers on the campus and in colleges have left for their homes, which may lead to the voter turnout bing lower than last year when 75 percent of the students exercised their right to franchise.
The elections are lacking in the usual euphoria this year as a host of stringent conditions and guidelines, in accordance of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, have been imposed this year.
The delay in holding the elections – in November instead of August – limited the number of days for campaigning. Rejection of nominations of almost all top student leaders from various organisations for not fulfilling the eligibility criteria, particularly that of 75 percent attendance, also has taken the sting out of the polls.
In five colleges affiliated to the university, elections have been cancelled as either there was no contestant left in the fray or the contesting parties finalised seat sharing among themselves.
The contest this time is again between the Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI) combine and Panjab University Students Union (PUSU)-Indian National Students Organisation (INSO) on the other side.
The police have beefed up security on the university campus and in the colleges for polling. Results are expected to be declared later Monday.