AURANGABAD: Several people associated with the upcoming elections to five collegiums of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University ( Bamu ) have complained of no updates from the university regarding the poll schedule.While some of the state universities have already declared polling dates, Bamu is yet to finalise electoral rolls among lack of completion of other formalities. The elections to a total of six collegiums are being carried out in the light of Section 2(15) of recently introduced Maharashtra Public Universities Act 2016Student activist Rahul Tayade who is associated with the Nationalist Students Congress , complained of confusion surrounding the proposed polls for collegiums."The last date for raising objection on draft electoral rolls ended on September 7 and since then no official communicated has been issued by Bamu authorities. We could neither locate any further update about polls on university website nor has any progress been intimated through any other means by varsity administration. It appears to be another case of failed management," he alleged.Tayade also said that the revamped varsity website did not have any dedicated portal for proposed elections unlike old website.University graduates, principals, university teachers, teachers and management representatives and HoDs are amongst designated collegiums for which polls are supposed to take place.Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada (SRTM) University, which caters to four Marathwada districts, has been demonstrating far better conduct of polls in question as compared to Bamu.On August 21, the university had announced October 10 as the date of polling for collegium of graduates. The SRTM University, on September 7, however, was forced to announce fresh polling date of October 29 in the wake of upcoming elections for Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation. The civic body is scheduled to go for polls on October 11.Another student activist Tukaram Saraf of Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena said Bamu authorities should expedite the process of polls for different collegiums."The varsity has already delayed in issuing election notification as compared to other leading universities in Maharashtra. Any further delay in conducting different related processes would have an adverse impact on formation of collegiums, which are expected to serve as the backbone of the university functioning as per the new legislation framed for state universities," he said.Saraf also accused Bamu for succumbing to pressure from certain quarters while entertaining objections on draft electoral rolls."The university authorities in certain cases tried to draw interpretations and interferences of rules in deviation of laws. The authorities actually gave into pressure. It has adversely affected not only the credibility of poll process, but delayed the procedures. The improper functioning from university could result in few litigations as well," he said.Bamu vice-chancellor B A Chopade did not respond to the calls made to him by this reporter.Another senior official said the process of finalising electoral rolls was in progress. "The number of voter registrations for collegium of graduate is more as compared to other collegiums. The electoral rolls are being finalised in the light of objections raised on draft list and subsequent hearing," an official said, preferring anonymity.Bamu authorities also said that necessary collegiums would be formed as desired by the Maharashtra Public Universities Act 2016.

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