Chandigarh: The Lyngdoh guidelines governing Panjab University’s student elections appear to be under increasing strain this year, with printed campaign stickers openly visible on vehicles across campus and the Rs 5,000 expenditure ceiling appearing increasingly out of sync with campaign realities.The issue is not new. What stands out this year is the apparent lack of effort to conceal violations. Last year, campaign stickers were routinely removed from vehicles at campus gates, while students often relied on photocopied campaign material. This year, vehicles carrying printed campaign stickers are openly plying across the campus.The expenditure cap presents an even bigger contradiction. PU’s election guidelines prescribe a maximum expenditure of Rs 5,000 per candidate and require candidates to submit expenditure statements after the polls.In practice, campaign material alone can consume a significant share of that amount. Printing stickers in bulk costs thousands of rupees, while campaigning also entails spending on food and refreshments for supporters accompanying candidates.A student leader associated with a mainstream political party, speaking on condition of anonymity, said spending Rs 5,000-6,000 a day on campaign volunteers was common.“Five to six thousand in a day is common for treating those campaigning with you, leave aside treating students en masse or spending at restaurants and clubs,” the student leader said.Treating campaigners at shops and canteens around the Student Centre and other campus locations remains a routine feature of election season, with bills often running into thousands of rupees.A senior PU official, also requesting anonymity, said the gulf between actual spending and declared expenditure had long been an open secret.“Candidates submit expenditure details showing amounts just below Rs 5,000. After the polls, fines are usually limited to Rs 500-1,000. Everyone knows what is happening, but little action is taken,” the official said.Asked about action against violations, Dean Student Welfare (DSW) YK Rawal said, “The committee constituted for the purpose is monitoring the matter. It will submit its report and action will be taken as per the guidelines.”The issue comes amid judicial scrutiny of student elections elsewhere. In 2025, the Delhi high court warned DUSU candidates over alleged violations of Lyngdoh and poll-conduct norms, including defacement and the use of vehicles for campaigning.DSW coordination under scannerQuestions have also been raised over the functioning of the DSW office at the start of this year’s election process.The wardens’ meeting, usually held soon after the election schedule is announced to communicate instructions and coordinate hostel arrangements, took place only on Saturday, two days after the polls were notified on Thursday.The coordination gap came to the fore on Thursday night when some student groups objected to being denied permission to campaign in a girls’ hostel. Sources said the DSW (women) was not informed about the wardens’ meeting. The associate DSW was also absent when the election schedule was announced, despite such involvement generally being the norm during the initial coordination process.
