Panel recommends 75 pc attendance for college elections

New Delhi, Sep 29 (UNI) A minimum attendance of 75 per cent in classes has been recommended for contesting college elections by a six-member committee headed by former chief election commissioner J M Lyngdoh, which want politicians out of campuses.

In his first interview after the committee submitted its report on campus elections to the Supreme Court, Mr Lyngdoh says he believes it is possible to delink political parties from college elections.

''We think it is workable. That's why we have gone into great detail on listing the eligibility criterion for students aspiring to contest,'' he told the 'Outlook' magazine.

The committee has suggested a code of conduct, specified an age and laid down a minimum attendance of 75 per centt for the contestants, he added.

The contestants should have no criminal record and there should be no political interference in campus elections, Mr Lyngdoh says.

''We are not saying that ABVP, NSUI or SFI are out. We have instead looked into the problems that come in the way of peaceful conduct of elections. In the course of our interacts, we discovered the extent to which students are exploited by politicians,'' he said.

Mr Lyngdoh says he found the situation in educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh shocking. ''UP was really the pits. We found students there just go and jump on business establishments to extract money before elections. Aspiring candidates have at least four gunmen and new cars to campaign.'' The panel has specifically recommended that politicians should be kept out of the political affairs of colleges. ''Politicians have no business meddling in college elections,'' Mr Lyngdoh says.

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