JNU abuzz with election activities

The much-awaited students union election process in Jawaharlal Nehru University started on Tuesday with the filing of nominations by candidates.

The final list of candidates will be declared on Wednesday, which will mark the beginning of campaigning.

Despite Wednesday being the official day for beginning the election campaign, different student union parties have already started talking about their poll agendas.

“The filing of nominations will be followed by verification of papers, withdrawal and declaration of the final list by February 22,” said a member of the election committee of JNUSU.

The parties are hopeful of over 70 per cent turnout as JNUSU will be holding polls in the campus the first time after 2008. “Since most of the students currently studying here have not participated in the elections, we expect a huge turnout,” said Prabodhan Arvind, chairperson of the JNUSU election committee.

Apart from the campaigning in which the final listed candidates will make rounds of the campus and interact with the students, general body meetings of different departments will also be held on February 23 and 24.

“The University GBM will be held on February 27. The most anticipated day of the elections is the day of the presidential debate which will take place on February 28. On the day after that there will be no election-related activities. March 1 is the polling day,” added a member of the election committee.

The party agendas include increasing the scholarship amount and filling up of vacant seats for teachers as well students from reserved categories.