Panjab University elections: Student leaders turn to Almighty to avoid deceit by allies

On Monday, leaders of Students Organisation of India (SOI) and those of their alliance partners went to a gurdwara and a temple on the campus where, as per sources, they took oath ‘not to indulge in voting outside the alliance’.

As the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections are three days away, student unions are trying their best to bag every single vote.

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There are alliances among different outfits but a sense of distrust is palpable. To ensure that voting is done as per the terms agreed while forging alliances, students leaders are reportedly visiting religious places to take oaths to ward off cheating.

On Monday, leaders of Students Organisation of India (SOI) and those of their alliance partners went to a gurdwara and a temple on the campus where, as per sources, they took oath ‘not to indulge in voting outside the alliance’.

Sources said that this happens every year and after the taking oath, members of alliance parties make it a point to physically stay and campaign together.

Still, reports have been coming in that alliance parties are campaigning for their own candidates and not for the whole panel. Sources said Indian Students Association (ISA), which has formed an alliance with SOI, and has been given the post of vice president, is campaigning only for its candidate and not for the entire panel.

Meanwhile, SOI leaders denied talks of taking oath for better trust. Senior leader Vicky Middukhera said, “We had gone to pray to God for victory. There is nothing negative about it and somebody is propagating these things to tarnish our image.”

ISA spokesperson Karanbir Singh Randhawa, too, denied this and said that they had gone to pray.