Chandigarh: The race for the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) formally took shape on Monday as all major student parties and groups filed their nominations. However, nomination day ended on a contentious note, with the Shiromani Akali Dal’s student wing, SOI, staging a protest outside the Dean Students Welfare (DSW) office over the rejection of its candidate Pranav’s nomination, while an objection was raised against ABVP presidential candidate Ankit Bidhan.As nominations closed at 10.30am and scrutiny began, the DSW office emerged as the centre of the day’s political activity. SOI members gathered outside the office from around 1pm, alleging that Pranav’s nomination had been rejected on the grounds of insufficient attendance despite his attendance having been verified earlier by the chemistry department.According to SOI, Pranav had personally got his attendance checked on Saturday, a working day, and was informed by the staff concerned that it was complete and sufficient for filing his nomination. The organisation, however, alleged that when he submitted his papers on Monday, he was told that his attendance fell short of the prescribed requirement.SOI spokesperson Aamir Pannu said the group briefly shut Gate No. 2 during the protest before reopening it after receiving an assurance from the university administration that the matter was being examined. The DSW office, meanwhile, remained shut as SOI members continued their protest outside.While DSW officials could not be reached for comment, senior PU officials said the scrutiny committee was already examining the matter and a decision was expected within two to three hours.The SOI protest recalled the familiar nomination-day friction that has often accompanied PU elections. Last year, objections to SATH candidate Ashmeet Singh’s candidature had also triggered a protest outside the DSW office before his nomination was eventually cleared.ABVP candidate faces objectionAnother objection surfaced this year in the presidential contest, involving ABVP candidate Ankit Bidhan. An objection has been raised against his candidature, reportedly linked to an FIR registered against him in connection with a Sector 15 clash. Bidhan has submitted his reply before the authorities.“We have all the necessary documents, and a reply has been submitted from our end. We are positive,” an ABVP representative said.The objection has once again brought the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines into focus. The guidelines state that a candidate should not have a previous criminal record and should not have been tried and/or convicted of a criminal offence or misdemeanour.Last year, Ashmeet’s case had raised a similar question. Although an FIR had been registered against him in connection with the Panjab University Senate protest case, his candidature was cleared as he had not been tried at the time of scrutiny.Whether the same interpretation applies in Bidhan’s case will now depend on the scrutiny process and the university’s decision.Monday was the scheduled day for filing nominations, scrutiny and objections. The provisional list forms part of the process before the final list is displayed on Tuesday. With the nomination window now closed, no fresh names can be added to the contest, though candidates may be struck off following scrutiny and objections or may choose to withdraw their nominations.Thus, while the broad contours of the contest are now visible, Tuesday’s final list will settle the field for the four PUCSC posts. But even before campaigning gathers pace, the election has already produced its first controversies, one over a rejected nomination and another over the eligibility of a presidential contender.The other flashpointDuring campaigning at the Department of Laws, members of ASAP were involved in a verbal spat with a teacher and a research scholar. A nephew of a Punjab MLA was also present during the incident. The department chairperson subsequently called representatives from both sides, following which the matter was resolved. No further escalation was reported.BOX: What’s on Tuesday10am: List of approved candidates to be displayed10.30am to noon: Withdrawal of nominations12.30pm: Final list to be sent to the DSW office2.30pm: Final list of candidates to be displayed
