Ahmedabad, 22 February 2012

Gujarat University Senate election results are out. ABVP has won 4 seats while Congress party’s student wing NSUI has secured victory over 6 seats. ABVP has thus lost two seats compare to last year, while NSUI is jubilant with this result as it has won two seats more compare to rival ABVP.

While ABVP had fielded lower middle class or middle class candidates, NSUI had fielded candidates who could spend money. ABVP candidates were complaining that they had no support from BJP, while NSUI candidates enjoyed full support of the topmost cadre of the party in the state. Sources in ABVP said that Gujarat University Vice Chancellor was sympathetic to NSUI, thanks to ABVP’s stand against him on the issue of corruption.

During the long rule of BJP in Gujarat, even on genuine issues ABVP has almost stopped agitations. This is one of the main reasons of its diminishing stature. This resulted into ABVP losing the ground, while NSUI gaining it.

Then there’s difference of culture between two organizations. NSUI organizes freshers parties, and youths associated with the organization also manage admission in exchange of money. This has given NSUI youths a deep penetration inside the campuses.

On the other hand, ABVP pracharaks would not allow freshers party, rose day, activities like admission for money and sittings over booze.

Then there’s something about the leadership.

Once upon a time in Gujarat, it was the BJP Youth wing that used to fight the University senate elections, but in the time of ABVP leaders like Amit Thaker, the stature of ABVP was lifted so high that the Youth BJP gave a way to ABVP to fight the university elections. Ever since then, it is ABVP that fights Gujarat University senate poll, and not BJYM. Amit Thaker was the first senate member elected under the banner of ABVP in Gujarat University. During a period of his leadership, the ABVP never won less than 9 seats out of total 11 in Senate.

The worst part of today’s defeat of ABVP was that, one of their candidates could secure only one vote. This candidate didn’t go to vote for himself. ABVP sources say the candidate of B.ed faculty deserted the idea to fight the election due to his mother’s ill health. He didn’t participate in campaign and didn’t turn up to vote for self event. Thus ABVP lost one seat.

ABVP sources say the Congress party supported NSUI candidates well. Shankersinh Bapu and the Mayor of Congress ruled Gandhinagar municipal corporation helped NSUI cadre through their influence. This resulted into lose of one more seat.

🗃️ This story is from our archives and may contain outdated information.