It was one last chance to woo prospective voters and student leaders of various students' organisations could ill-afford to miss it. With Panjab University Campus Students Council election slated on Friday, student leaders could be seen appealing for votes on the eve of polling day.
Meanwhile, varsity officials and police spent the day giving finishing touches to their arrangements for the D-day. Authorities were confident of arrangements made to avoid untoward incidents. Dean student welfare Dr AS Ahlwalia said, "We are all set to hold the election; the ballot boxes have reached the campus and we shall be starting with voting in all departments at 10am on Friday."
Around 1,000 police officials, besides over 200 security personnel of the varsity, would guard the campus till results are declared.
Meanwhile, the campaigning was subdued as compared to the previous few days when student bodies had gone all out to attract eyeballs to their campaigning.
As campaigning came to an end at 9am on Thursday morning, panel members of different outfits in the poll fray could be seen interacting with students individually on the PU campus. With no stickers, banners and mass campaigning allowed, many student leaders and their supporters visited classrooms in various departments and spoke on their agendas. Many others roamed around, wearing party stickers on their clothes.
Supporters of two main contesting parties, Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) and Panjab University Student Union, sounded confident and claimed victory in the PUCSC election.
Imp timings on D-day
All gates, except gate number 2 from Sector 15 side, will be closed after 9am on Friday morning.
All voters expected to reach their departments by 9:30am.
Voting to start at 10am and go on till 12pm. Voting to be through ballot.
Results expected by 3pm
Main contestants
SOPU-HSA-SOI alliance vs PUSU-NSUI alliance
Supporters of two main contesting parties, Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) and Panjab University Student Union, sounded confident and claimed victory in the PUCSC election.
Imp timings on D-day
All gates, except gate number 2 from Sector 15 side, will be closed after 9am on Friday morning.
All voters expected to reach their departments by 9:30am.
Voting to start at 10am and go on till 12pm. Voting to be through ballot.
Results expected by 3pm
Main contestants
SOPU-HSA-SOI alliance vs PUSU-NSUI alliance
Total number of voters: 13,723
Total number of polling booths: 169
Voting percentage in 2011 election: 56%
Crucial dept's with maximum voters:
UIET: 2,581 voters
Law: 1,241 voters
UILS: 850 voters
Chemical Engineering: 648 voters
Physics: 539 voters
Elaborate police bandobast
Chandigarh Police claimed to have made elaborate security arrangements for student council polling. Police sources said 1,000 security personnel would be deployed on the campus and affiliated colleges in the city, with the majority stationed on the PU campus.
A senior official said 800 cops, besides 200 Police Control Room personnel, would be deployed during polling, including 50 sub-inspectors, 20 inspectors and nine deputy superintendents (DSPs).
SP (city) Deshraj Singh would head the police bandobast. Quick reaction team armed with tear gas equipment and firefighters and emergency service personnel have also been deployed.
Assault alleged
Two PUSU supporters alleged that they were thrashed by SOPU members on Thursday. A PUSU leader Arun alleged that Sanjiv and Harman were thrashed by a group of SOPU members who came in a convoy of cars. The two injured were rushed to government multi-specialty hospital, Sector 16, for treatment. Police said they were verifying the claims of the PUSU members.
Advisory to follow for D-day at PU
All voters to carry ID cards
Ensure documents of vehicles complete