Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Panjab University campus is set for a day of intense student political activity as elections to the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) are being held today, August 31. Voting will also take place at eight affiliated colleges in Chandigarh, with thousands of students expected to participate.
At Panjab University, nearly 39,000 students are eligible to vote. The eight affiliated colleges together have around 39,000 students, with 76 candidates in the fray. Elections for the principal student union posts are being conducted at six colleges, while Dev Samaj College in Sector 45 and PG Government College in Sector 46 will hold polls for selected positions.
Polling at the university will begin at 9:30 am, while counting is scheduled to commence at 11:30 am. Voting arrangements have been made within individual departments, where students will cast their ballots at designated polling booths.
ID Card Essential for Voting
Students must carry their valid university identity card to the polling station. Those without the required identification will not be permitted to vote.
Each voter will be handed two ballot papers. One will be used to elect members to the main student union positions, while the second ballot will be for selecting the Departmental Representative (DR).
The presidential contest has attracted particular attention this year, with four candidates competing for the top post.
Counting to Take Place at Gymnasium Hall
Once voting concludes, officials will seal the ballot boxes before shifting them from the individual departments to the Gymnasium Hall. The boxes will be transported under security arrangements and opened for counting there.
The results for the PUCSC President, Vice-President, General Secretary and Joint Secretary posts, along with those of the Departmental Representatives, are expected to be declared by the evening after counting is completed.
The proceedings will also be videographed as part of the arrangements for monitoring the election process.
Campus Entry Restrictions
Security measures will remain in place throughout the day. Gate No. 1, located on the PGI side, will be closed between 12 noon and 4:30 pm.
During the restricted period, only vehicles displaying a valid university parking sticker will be permitted to enter the campus. Students have been advised to plan their movement accordingly and reach their polling booths before voting closes.
With voting, counting and result announcements all scheduled for the same day, the university campus is expected to remain politically active until the final results are announced.
