Student pacts here to stay

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">For the first time an alliance is heading the Panjab University Student Council. CT takes a look at the new set up </span><br /><br />The recent student body elections have brought together two different parties. For a successful run this year, they will have to work in strong alliance with each other, if they want to look out for student issues.Though nothing new, it brings to light a situation very much akin to what happens at the central level. Drawing a parallel between the student council and the central government, are alliances better in comparison to single party majority? Chandigarh Times asks student leaders, politicians and professors for their thought. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Pawan Kumar Bansal</span><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">, Congress MP</span><br /><br />While I could draw a parallel between student politics and what happens at the central level, I don''t want to. For I firmly believe that after polling there should be no bitterness between different student parties since their cause is the same. They are working for students on campus, and all differences should be resolved to continue with that aim. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Rajinder Singh Lucky, </span><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">president, Student Council 2004–05</span><br /><br />The only benefit of two parties working together in an alliance is that the monopoly of one party is avoided. But I am not in its favour since agendas are always different, despite the fact that everyone is thinking of student issues. As there was no alliance between the two parties before polling, I don''t think people harbour a mindset inclined towards alliances. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Raman Sidana, </span><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">deputy vice-president, Youth Congress</span><br /><br />I think the need of the hour is such alliances. For smaller parties can never have a chance of winning a seat in the student council until they join hands with a bigger party. When they do so, they give their own supporters and cause a chance. This is not just student politics, all tactics are after all picked up from whatever political party the students are affiliated to. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Gurparvez Singh Sandhu Shellay, </span><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">ABVP</span><br /><br />I don''t think there is anything like that. There are all chances of a clash. Fights might take place over trivial issues. The ones to lose out are the students. It is better to stay in the opposition and work with you ideals rather than letting an alliance ruin whatever little chances of giving a voice to student problems. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Deepak K Singh, </span><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">sr lecturer, Dept of Political Science, PU</span><br /><br />One can definitely draw a parallel between student and governmental politics. Since all these student bodies are affiliated to some political party or the other, student elections are just a miniature of what happens at the central level. Though stakes may not be as high, becoming a student leader is very important for it empowers a student like nothing else.<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">nikita.singh@timesgroup.com</span></div> </div>