Kathmandu, February 2

The Nepali Congress has instructed Nepal Student Union, the party’s student wing, to abide by the Tribhuvan University’s new regulation and make preparations for the upcoming Free Student Union elections accordingly.

The new TU regulation would deprive over 200 NSU leaders of participation in the polls. NSU had been opposing the regulation as it bars students above 28 years of age from contesting.

A meeting of the NC office bearers held at its parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar today directed NSU to end its protests and accept the new regulation. The FSU elections are considered crucial for testing the popularity of political parties.

NSU Vice-president Dilli Ram Subedi said some of its leaders wanting to contest the FSU polls were as old as 36 years. He said they were waiting to start their political career by contesting the FSU polls. “The new TU regulation would deprive over 200 NSU leaders of participation in the FSU polls in and outside Kathmandu Valley,” said NSU Vice-president Dilli Ram Subedi.

He, however, said that the NSU would accept the party’s instruction and make every effort to ensure its victory in the FSU elections.

NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Senior leader Ramchandra Paudel, General Secretary Shashank Koirala, and party’s office bearers were present at the meeting today.

The TU has decided to hold FSU elections on February 25. Due to differences among student unions, the FSU elections have not been held since 2009.

The TU has decided to adopt mixed electoral system in the FSU elections. As per the new regulation 50 per cent of members will be elected directly while rest will be chosen on the basis of proportional representation.