You cannot keep politics out of campus polls, claim student leaders

Youth leaders claim that campus polls will ultimately be influenced by politics, as students either belong to or are associated with various groups like the ABVP, the Yuva Sena, NSUI or MNS

Politics and campus elections are like conjoined twins -who can neither be separated nor can they survive without each other -- claim student leaders and youth wings of political parties. Members claim it is not possible to have elections on college and university campuses without political influence.

The recent decision of the state government to reintroduce campus polls, without political interference, in all colleges and universities of the state from the next academic year has led to various concerns among student leaders. Youth leaders claim polls will ultimately be influenced by politics, as students either belong to or are associated with various groups like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the Yuva Sena, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the Republican Party of India, the Students’ Federation of India and others. It is therefore easy for students to use this to their advantage in some way.

Cannot be ignored

Students

claim even if they are not directly members of political parties, they have friends, relatives or connections with the youth wings. Aniket Desai, a student, said, “I am planning to contest elections and I am not a member of any political party. But I do have friends who belong to different parties and they want me to represent their party in some way.” This affects the election phase and it will automatically create influence.

Has power to change things

When

it comes to solving students’ issues, youth political parties have an upper hand, as per students. Salim Ahmed, a student said, “Our problems like fee hike, examination mess, result delay, lack of teachers and attendance are always highlighted by youth wings of political parties. When these parties protest, question and challenge the authorities, then officials are forced to resolve the issue. It creates pressure and draws media attention too but when we do this on our own, the impact is negligible.”

Will help get more votes

Though

the state has initiated rules that polls should be conducted without political interference, students are sceptical about its implementation at the ground level. Shania Pinto, a student, said, “Student leaders know a lot of people in the college right from the teaching faculty to college staff. Also, either they know almost all the students or all the students know them by their name, as this will help gain more votes. More than the work, unfortunately it is the name of the student leader and his or her political party which draws eyeballs.”

Youth wings will use their power

Either

before, during or after campus elections, youth wings of political parties will use their influence in some way, reveal student leaders. Ranjan Mhatre, a teacher said, “Students are highly influenced by youth wings of political parties on campus. And this influence is present at different levels. Student leaders will ultimately try to use their political power in some way while these parties will back and support certain students in order to provide scope for a wide platform.”