KOLKATA: Victims of political violence in several affiliated colleges of the 159-year-old Calcutta University see hope in ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) option, that would make a foray for the first time in the university students union elections slated to be held on January 28.
They hope the NOTA option would give a big push towards democracy and would eventually increase the bargaining power of the students.
“At least people will have the option to say ‘NO’. We didn’t have that option,” said Raju Sen (name changed) who was beaten up allegedly by workers of the ruling party students union for not voting for them in the student elections. Jadavpur University, known for its political vibrancy, has also vowed to introduce NOTA in student union elections from this year. Calcutta University had earlier decided to let the decision on implementation of NOTA up to the different colleges. However, with Students Council approval sought on Monday, the option would be added to student elections in all the colleges of the university in the coming elections.
Asked whether the move will affect vote shares of the student wings of political parties, Calcutta University Students Union (CUSU) President Prantik Chakraborty said: “Political parties will not be affected, on the other hand democracy will be strengthened. Rights of students will be bolstered.” He was confident of a Trinamool Congress Chatra Parishad repeat of ascendance to power in the varsity elections on January 28.
Ritwika Sengupta (name changed), a woman student who was verbally abused and harassed for her opposition to political violence hoped for the day when NOTA exceeds votes to student wings in her college. “Between the devil and the deep sea, I hope NOTA will save us,” she said.
Shyam Dasgupta (name changed), who was kicked on the abdomen near his house for refusing to vote in students elections in his college hopes that NOTA will be extended to other universities of the state as well. “Political violence is more in districts of Bengal, where NOTA will be a game-changer,” he said.