KATHMANDU: Free Students’ Union (FSU) elections at 10 campuses of Tribhuvan University in the Kathmandu Valley have been thrown into uncertainty due to escalating disputes among student organizations and the resignation of election officers.
The elections have become uncertain at the Central Campus of Tribhuvan University, Padmakanya Multiple Campus, Nepal Law Campus, Shankardev Campus, Bishwabhasha Campus, Valmiki Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Koteshwor Multiple Campus, Public Youth Campus, Saraswati Multiple Campus, and Pashupati Multiple Campus.
The chaos began when the Nepal Students’ Union (NSU), affiliated with the Nepali Congress, locked the Central Campus to protest the candidacy of Dujang Sherpa, who had registered as a rebel candidate against the official nominee, Anoj Karki.
The lockout was led by FSU President Shyamraj Ojha, central member Ashok Bista, and TU Committee President Bishnu Badaila. They accused the rival faction of using fake signatures and seals to register Deepak Raj Joshi as the presidential candidate after the deadline.
At Padmakanya Multiple Campus, election officer Dr. Shailendu Prakash Nepal resigned, citing obstacles and an uncomfortable environment for conducting the election. The All Nepal Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU), linked to the ruling CPN-UML, also locked the campus after disputes over the serial number during organization registration.
Similarly, Shankardev Campus elections were disrupted after the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union accused NSU of enrolling 300 fake students to influence the vote. Meanwhile, Akhil Krantikari, close to the CPN (Maoist Center), locked Bishwabhasha and Pashupati campuses over voter list controversies.
At Valmiki Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, the registration process was hindered due to unresolved conflicts between student organizations.
In Koteshwor Multiple Campus, the election committee faced resignation threats amid disputes, while no nominations have been registered yet. Saraswati Multiple Campus also saw disruption as the student wing of the opposition Unified Socialist locked the campus. Public Youth Campus elections were stalled after Akhil Krantikari raised issues over student admissions.
An all-party meeting has been called on Chaitra 1 to resolve the disputes between student unions. Koteshwor Multiple Campus SBU President Sanjay Budhathoki stated that efforts are ongoing to prevent the resignation of the election committee. The elections scheduled for March 18 are now uncertain as political and organizational disputes continue to hinder the process.
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