PU polls: With one nomination, SOPU hopes for revival

CHANDIGARH: The Students’ Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) is hoping for a revival on campus by nominating a candidate for the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections after a gap of three years.
Karmbir Singh from the department of education is contesting for the joint secretary’s post. SOPU, along with Panjab University Students Organisation (PUSU), used to be a major student outfit on campus lost out its leaders defecting to mainstream political parties making their way to PU.
The party had suffered a blow in 2012, when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited the university, leading to a lot of its leaders shifting to the Congress’ student wing National Students Union of India (NSUI).
“We suffered the most due to defections. As mainstream parties entered the poll scene at PU, a lot of leaders thinking of making a political career joined them. Our party was more campus specific catering to campus issues,” said Santokhwinder Singh, the founding member of SOPU and former PUCSC president in 2001.
SOPU had last won the president’s post of PUCSC in 2012, with its candidate Satinder Singh Satti defeating the PUSU-NSUI alliance. “This year, we are contesting only on one post in hope of revival,” Singh said. SOPU has so far not forged any alliance, but Singh said the talks were going on. SOPU’s then rival PUSU is also fighting for existence in PU. It is also contesting only one post of secretary among office bearers, and has joined hands with the Student Organisation of India (SOI) in hope of revival.