KATHMANDU: The process of the long overdue Free Student Union (FSU) election to be held on February 25 at the Tribhuvan University (TU) kicked off today.

The election process will start as per the election calendar recently published, TU Rector and FSU Election Central Monitoring and Coordination Committee's Coordinator, Sudha Tripathi shared.

The TU's own colleges as well as some affiliated institutions will now publicise the voters' name list.

As per the election calendar, the voters' list will remain open for complaints and claims until 1 pm on Tuesday and a probe will be conducted on the complaints until 5 pm followed by publication of the final name list.

On February 15, nomination letters will be distributed among the candidates. The registration of the candidates under direct and proportional systems will be held from 11 am to 3 pm on February 16.

On the same day at 5 pm, the name list of the candidates under the direct electoral system will be published whereas chances will be offered for claims and protests against the candidates the next day.

On February 17, a probe will be conducted on the claims and complaints before publication of the final list at 5 pm.

On February 19, the candidates will be given a final chance to withdraw their candidacy by 3 pm; and by 4 pm, the final name list will be made public. The elections will take place on February 25, according to Tripathi.

The TU is conducting the FSU elections after eight years. This election will for the first time see age bar of 28 years on the candidates and the mixed election system.

Earlier, the varsity had announced elections on two separate occasions; but they could not take place due to disputes among the students.

The student organisations aspiring to take part in the elections are required to register their unions at the Campus Election Committee today.