‘Birthday’ parties galore in colleges ahead of elections

They may have been born in January, April or June, but their birthday parties are being held now. The guest list includes everyone, and no one has to bring gifts.

These birthday parties are being held in most state universities, and affiliated colleges, where student elections are to be held in October after a gap of almost eight years.

Since these elections will be held in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, which has capped elections expenditure at Rs 5,000 per candidate, those contesting the polls have had to devise new ways to win over voters without spending too much on official campaign-related activities.

“We are not being allowed to do wall writing, put up hoardings or distribute gifts to students. There is no other way in which we can win over the voters. Since my birthday is on September 28, I decided to host a party at a resort and extend an open invitation to all students on the campus,” said a candidate running for post in the Lucknow University Students Union (LUSU) elections.

As soon as the news of this birthday bash spread, several other student leaders jumped on to the idea and announced their birthday parties too.

“My birthday was in April, but nothing can stop me from celebrating it now. It is just an excuse to get my voters together with good food and drinks,” said another student leader who did not want to be named.

Most such student leaders are hosting the parties in resorts on the outskirts of Lucknow, mainly to escape attention. Some are even arranging for buses and vans to ferry the guests.

A resort owner on the Lucknow-Sultanpur road said that he had been asked to make arrangements for two parties next week in his resort, with each party having 500-600 guests. “When I asked about the payment, I was told that if I wanted my resort to be in business, I would have to bear the expenses of the food and liquor too,” he said.

I tried contacting the police, but was told not to lodge a complaint since the leaders belong to the ruling party,” he said.

I am forced by circumstances to arrange for the party and bear the expenses,” he said. Some parties are being held in the university hostels and caterers are being asked to bring in food from outside. Boys from other colleges are also invited to these parties that, in many cases, lead to lawlessness on campus. Birthday parties were held in Lal Bahadur Shastri hostel, Narendra Dev hostel and Subhash hostel this week, and when the authorities tied to intervene, students allegedly broke light bulbs and escaped in the cover of darkness.