PU Senate poll candidates trying to get people to vote

Although campaigning is in full swing for the Panjab University (PU) Senate elections scheduled to be held on September 23, the candidates are stressing more on bringing people out to vote. The voting percentage in the the previous term's poll held in 2008 was only 15 per cent.

Dr Mukesh Arora, a candidate from the Teacher's constituency, said, "Nearly 5 lakh voters are in the list now and all of them are literate. But the poll percentage gives an idea of how much importance they give to the Senate elections."

It needs to be mentioned that there were 4.25 lakh voters in the list last time and 75,0000 new voters have been added this time.

Naresh Gaur, a candidate from the Graduate category, said, "Because of the poor poll turnout every time, our main stress in campaigning is to encourage people to vote more and more."

Similar is the campaign strategy of Prof Satish Sharma who too is contesting from the Graduate category.

The candidates are carrying out door-to-door campaigning and public meetings as well.

In cities like Ferozepur, Fazilka and Muktsar the candidates have defaced the walls by pasting posters everywhere.

They have even erected illegal hoardings as well at every nook and corner.

To woo the voters, the candidates themselves are making efforts to get letters issued in the name of the voter so that he/ she can go out on September 23 to vote.

Interestingly, due to non-updating in the list, many candidates never get letters from Panjab University that their vote exists.

The list has not been updated since 1948, the year when PU Senate elections were started.

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