Patna: In line with the practice of holding presidential debates on the eve of students’ union elections at Oxford and Cambridge universities in the late 19th century, Patna University (PU) will provide a common platform for all presidential candidates of the Patna University Students’ Union (PUSU) to present their agenda for reforms and development.The presidential debate will be held at 1pm on Feb 25 at the Patna Women’s College grounds. Each candidate will be given five to 10 minutes to explain their ideas. The vice-chancellor and all senior officials and teachers of PU will be present.PUSU chief returning officer Shankar Kumar said, “The practice of holding presidential debates in union elections was introduced in PU in 2012 by VC Shambhu Nath Singh. Since then, it has been held in every election to promote a healthy democratic system on campus.”The presidential debate will also be telecast on PU’s channel. He appealed to all students figuring in the electoral roll to turn up at their respective polling booths on Feb 28 and exercise their right to franchise. PU has decided to award a day’s attendance to all students who turn up to cast their votes.Meanwhile, a large number of students filed their nominations for different offices of the union on the last day of filing nominations on Wednesday. The number of nominations filed for key posts include president (16), vice-president (9), general secretary (9), joint secretary (8) and treasurer (9).Besides, as many as 54 nominations were filed for 22 posts of councillors (cabinet members) from different constituencies.The scrutiny of nominations will take place on Feb 19 and withdrawal of nominations will be held on Feb 21. The final list of candidates contesting the elections will also be published on Feb 21.Meanwhile, having little regard for the code of conduct, volunteers of NSUI forcibly entered Patna Women’s College on Wednesday afternoon, carrying banners and raising slogans in favour of their candidates, said the chief returning officer.
