Presidential debate finishes, campaigning ends for JNUSU polls

New Delhi, Nov 8 (UNI) Campaigning for the Jawaharlal Nehru Students Union elections drew to an end as the Presidential debate finished in the wee hours, with today being the no campaigning day for tomorrow's polls.

The debate lived up to its reputation of the forum where issues other than the quotodian ones, concerning the immediate well being of the students figured in the debate. Though considered a red bastion, all hues of the political spectrum found an opportunity to express their views on burning issues. As Jawaharlal Nehru aptly said that a university is a place for the adventure of ideas, alternative voices also participated.

The most hotly debated issues were the Saddam death penalty and the 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher education. Other subjects figuring in the political discourse were the effect of the noeliberal economic policies pursued by India, farmers suicides in Maharashtra, death penalty of Afzal Guru.

Showing the political sensitivity of the JNU campus to women issues, the Domestic Violence Bill and the Women's reservation Bill were also discussed across the board.

The year saw one of the widest frays in recent times with as many as 12 contestants for the coveted position. The major contenders were Dhananjay Tripathi from the joint plank of the Students Federation of India, and the All India Students Federation, the students wing of CPI(M) and CPI respectively. Awadhesh Tripathy, Ritupan Goswami, Amit Singh, who represented the All India Students Association, the Democratic Students Union and the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad respectively. The new entrants this year are the students wing of Indian Justice Party, the Bahujan Samaj Front and the Youth For Equality.

Last ditch efforts are on to garner the maximum possible votes as the University goes to polls tomorrow.

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