Keshav Mahavidyalaya would be holding a referendum to determine the students’ verdict in the matter of the institution of the college students’ union as well as the college’s affiliation to the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU). The referendum is slated to be held on the 2nd of May 2018, and the entire process is deemed to be completed by 9 p.m. on the same day.
Keshav Mahavidyalaya does not partake in the elections held to the DUSU and neither does it have a students’ union. For years, certain sections of the students have demanded for both the aforementioned elements in their college.
Faculty members V.K. Verma and Surendra Singh have been appointed as the Election Officer and Returning Officer respectively. All the class representatives (CRs) of the college have been invited to meet the Students’ Union Formation Committee on the 26th of this month for a meeting to discuss the modalities of the referendum. All students enrolled in regular courses in the college, and having a valid identity card will be eligible to vote in the same. The students can cast their votes from the following options: ‘NOTA’ (None Of The Above), besides ‘Yes’ and ‘No’.
Priyavrat Joshi, former President of the Stage Play Society, who graduated from the college in 2017, told DU Beat, “When I was in college, there were many protests for the institution of a students’ union. Our society, along with a few others had tried talking to the Principal and the administration for the same, but to no avail.” He further explained, “Our college has always been like a school, more inclined towards academics. So the authorities never wanted elections to take place in our college, to retain the academic spirit. In fact, even our college societies don’t get adequate support from the administration.”
When asked about the probable trends of the referendum, he commented, “I think the trend would be towards a definite ‘yes’ to the formation of the students’ union.”
In stark contrast to the comments of Priyavrat, a student, on the condition of anonymity, told the DU Beat correspondent, “all the societies are really happy with the way the college is functioning. We don’t have much complaints or demands with regards to either a students’ union or our affiliation to the DUSU.”
Significantly, while demands for a Students’ Union have been prevalent for quite some time, the Principal’s sudden affirmation for a referendum to decide the fate of the college was considered as a “suspicious move” by some quarters of the college. Commenting on the same, the student told DU Beat, “The Principal didn’t take the decision under any political pressure. She wasn’t against the idea of a students’ union, in the first place. Her concern was, if referendum is what majority of the students demand, then it is fair to have it.”
While any form of campaigning has been officially banned in the pretext of the referendum, the sight of “politically active” students approaching other students to influence their decision either for or against the referendum has been a commonality in the college lately.
The compilation of results is expected to commence at 4 p.m. on the 2nd of May, following which the declaration of results will be undertaken by the Principal on the same day.
Feature Image Credits: Justdial
Vaibhavi Sharma Pathak
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