Almost in every college there is provision for forming a Students Union. The office bearers are elected by the students to manage the affairs of the Union under the guidance and supervision of the Principal. Hence elections are held in the beginning of the academic session after the admissions are over. The purpose of these elections is to provide a sort of democratic training to the students at the college level and to teach them how to become good citizens. The system also trains the students to shoulder responsibility.
The Principal issues a notice to the students to file nominations for the various offices of the Student’s Union. The defective nominations are rejected on scrutiny. Then a date is fixed for the election.
Ballot papers are printed confidentially. Students who compete in the election visit different classes and request other students to .vote in their favour. The day before the election, a meeting is arranged. The contestants are allowed to explain the purpose of their candidature. Each contestant is allowed to speak for a few minutes only. The most interesting part of the meeting is that contestants for the post of the dramatic secretary make many humours and jokes and al sing film songs in order to please the students and draw their votes.
Lecturers are appointed as the polling officers. The students of the different classes assemble in different rooms on the election date. They collect ballot papers from the polling officers. With proper mark on the suitable candidate’s name in the ballot paper, they fold the papers and insert it into the ballot box.
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The polling comes to art end by 2 P.M. Then the votes are counted by the officers in presence of the student-agents. The results are declared soon after the counting. Sometimes, the Principal withholds the result; sometimes he cancels the poll and orders for repelling. It happens only in the situation of malpractice and unfairness in the polling.
The Students’ Union consists of different office bearers such as the President, the Vice-President, the General Secretary, the Assistant General-Secretary, and the Class Representatives. They perform several meetings. They organise cultural meetings, debates and competitions. They invite famous persons to these meetings. Thus the elected students indulge in many organisational activities with the help of their fellow students.
Sometimes, professional politicians use these office bearers of the college as instruments of party propaganda. Very often, the defeated contestants create disturbances in the campus. They also indulge in violent activities. Moreover, the valuable period of student life must not be wasted in the name of election.