The Free Students’ Union (FSU) polls, held on March 19, were regarded by some as a popularity test for the various political parties after the historic elections to the Constitution Assembly in which the UCPN- Maoists had won the largest number of seats enabling it to lead the government. No wonder politicians were seen directly involved in campaigning and this raised eyebrows. This particular poll was much more politicised than in the past, as was evident during the campaigning. Regular classes had also been disrupted at most of the campuses, because the students were busy electioneering for their respective candidates. The campaigns were so intense that ugly violence between rival student unions were witnessed, and many students were injured and one killed, apart from resulting in the destruction of the property and infrastructure of the campuses. Even now, some of the election results are hotly contested, and the counting of votes have been stalled in some campuses. These polls, instead of being conducted in a peaceful and friendly manner, has instead only given rise to bitter rivalry in many places that will take a long time to heal. In the meantime, the academic atmosphere in the strife affected campuses has deteriorated, and it may take days for normal academic activities to resume.

The role played by the political parties in the Free Student Union polls now deserves scrutiny for they were directly involved in the polls, the student unions being affiliated to one of them or the other. Since the country counts on the youths to take the country forward on the path of development and prosperity, playing with the future of students does not befit responsible politicians. It would be better if politics was kept away from the campuses and academic establishments and more focus was laid on matters of academic nature, such as improving the quality of education and dealing with problems faced by students peculiar to them. Unfortunately, some students fancy themselves as future leaders and join the campuses as the base to pursue their political career paying little, if any, heed to their studies. Furthermore, the country is spending a huge amount from its coffer in the educational sector, and it cannot afford the misutilisation of the funds. The trouble is that although the students and others concerned are very much aware of this, the lure of power and politics is irresistible to many of them.

In the meantime, the poll results are being interpreted in different ways. Counting affiliation

of presidents would indicate one kind of result, while counting affiliation of other members of

the Free Student Union would indicate another kind of result. These results should not be blown out of proportion, but there are those who would be carefully looking at them to plan their political strategies, as can only be expected. Rather, there are no

winners or losers but a victory for all students. As such, the Free Student Union should not be taken as a prestige issue by the leaders of the political parties. The students, for their part, should now set in earnest to get back to their studies, and the Free Student Union of the various campuses must get down to the task of fulfilling the promises they have made

for a better academic environment and to assure a bright future for the students.