The Himachal Pradesh University campus eagerly awaits the interactive session with AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi at the university auditorium on Tuesday.

The NSUI, the event organiser, is considered to have a weaker base on campus compared to the SFI and the ABVP. Yet, scores of students have contacted the NSUI members to book their seats in the programme.

The SFI that dominates the HPU campus terms it a golden opportunity to know youth icon Gandhi.

The first woman president of HPU Student Central Association (SCA), Shikha Chauhan, who was elected on SFI’s panel in 2008, said: “Rahul Gandhi has worked above party lines. This is a rare opportunity for an interaction with him that would give a chance to know his ideas about country’s future.”

She said though the Congress’s only motive to use this interaction with youths may be to project Gandhi as the next Prime Minister,

majority of students feel

he is an icon.

The ABVP does not seem enthusiastic for the session, as most of its senior leaders are busy for the outfit’s national conference at Una. State ABVP president Dev Dutt said, “Most of our student leaders are in Una for preparation, but other ABVP supporters will certainly participate in the interactive session”.

A management student Sahil Uppal said, “Gandhi has a certain charisma and hope for change. I hope that the students affiliated to political parties do not dominate the entire session and other students also get time to communicate their ideas to him.”

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