ANNISU-R, NSU against polls. ANNISU-R is afraid of losing the election and fear that that would have an adverse impact on their chances in constituent assembly polls — Thakur Gaire, ANNFSU president

Kathmandu, February 6:

The Seven-Party Alliance’s decision to postpone the Free Students Union (FSU) election scheduled for February 28 has not gone well with certain student unions.

Earlier the proposal of the All Nepal National Independent Students Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R) during the eight student unions’ meeting to postpone the election was dropped by two major student unions.

The CPN-Maoist’s student wing had claimed that two major unions would resort to illegal activities to win the election, inviting unnecessary confrontation between the students and sending wrong message to the public, which can have negative impact on the CA polls.

But according to the leaders of other unions, the ANNISU-R has no guts to face the election as they have been out of the FSU. “They are afraid of losing the election and fear that that would have an adverse impact on their chances in CA polls,” Thakur Gaire, All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) president said. He claimed that both ANNISU-R and the Nepal Students Union were against the FSU polls for their own reasons. He added that the two factions of the NSU were yet to merge following the unification of the Nepali Congress and the NC (Democratic) and were fighting for the top position. Poudel, however, claimed that the NSU was preparing to utilise the election as an opportunity to consolidate the two unions.

NSU and ANNFSU have expressed concern about the “unnecessary political interference” in the students’ politics. They wanted the SPA to correct its decision, claiming that the FSU polls would help create favourable environment for the CA polls.

The SPA, however, claims that the decision was taken to avoid possible confrontation among the students that could have had adverse impact on the environment for CA polls. Confrontation during the previous FSU polls could have led the SPA leaders to come to the conclusion, deferring the student election.

It may be recalled that most of the SPA leaders were the product of the student movements.

According to a senior Maoist leader, CP Gajurel, the Election Commission had also suggested that the FSU polls be deferred. “We cannot defer the CA polls this time at any cost,” Gajurel said.

Students had to fight a long battle with the party-less Panchayat government to establish FSU through which they have been practicing democracy.

On the other hand, there are complaints against the student leaders at the helm of FSU. It is alleged that they interfere in the activities of their respective colleges, besides engaging students in political activities. Even the top student leaders confess that FSU leaders were involved in financial irregularities.

NSU president Pradip Poudel said such activities of the student leaders had compelled the unions to think of revamping the election process and structure of the FSU.

There has been a dispute over the FSU election system since the ANNISU-R demanded proportional election system. The union dropped the idea after the TU decided to go by the existing bylaws of First-Past-The-Post election system. The student unions were then gearing up for the polls and had started campaigning.

If students can ensure healthy competition and avoid confrontations, as Tribhuvan University’s Vice-Chancellor Madhav Sharma has clarified, there is nothing to be afraid of. TU is ready to hold election regardless of what the SPA decides. The student unions have already begun campaigning for the same. A peaceful FSU election would help create conducive environment for the upcoming Constituent Assembly polls.

FSU history:

• First FSU election was held in 2036 BS during the party-less Panchayat system when political activities were forbidden

• FSU Elections of 2045 BS and 2047 BS were withheld due to the democratic movement in the country

• The election of 2059 was cancelled following the warning of ANNISU-R. The union had sought the whereabouts of their arrested and missing cadres

• ANNISU-R could not take part in two consecutive FSU election of 2060 BS and 2062 BS due to the restrictions by the government.