Chandigarh: During almost every student election at Panjab University, a common sight is a lone worker sweeping up the litter left behind after party announcements. This scene was particularly evident as the nomination filing process wrapped up for the upcoming Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) elections, scheduled for Sept 5. The most active spots on campus—such as University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), laws department, and student centre—were strewn with party stickers , including those from ABVP , NSUI , CYSS, INSO, ISO, and others.
In one instance, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) Student Organization (ISO) held a rally from UILS to the student centre, announcing Tejasvi, a 25-year-old second-year Master of Physical Education student, as their candidate for the joint secretary position. Stickers were tossed into the air during the rally, with no effort made to clean up, leaving a single worker to handle the mess. "This is a daily occurrence, and we mentally prepare ourselves to deal with it every year," said the worker, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Officials seem to be turning a blind eye Despite the litter, the university authorities seemed to turn a blind eye to the clear violations of the election code and other regulations. The use of printed materials, including stickers on shirts or vehicles, is officially prohibited. Violators are supposed to face fines for using printed stickers or pamphlets and for defacing university or governme.