SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov 6: A much-publicised poll of Binod Bihari Mahto Koylanchal University (BBMKU) Dhanbad Teachers Association has plunged into uncertainty due to a lack of funds for holding elections.
General secretary of outgoing committees Dr Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary and Dr BN Singh constituted a seven-member election committee on September 21 to hold the poll of BBMKUTA as soon as possible but did not arrange fund for conducting it. As a result, the poll process is still pending.
The election committee has no funds to hold meetings of members, get voter lists printed, and deal with other poll-related works.
The chief election officer of the seven-member committee, Dr SKL Das, today admitted that fund crunch has delayed the election process.
“I request all the 11 units (10 constituent colleges and PG departments) to release teachers’ contributions to the election committee so that a fair and transparent poll can be held as soon as possible,” said Dr SK L Das.
Per month Rs 100 is deducted from a teacher’s salary for the association in colleges and university departments. A senior teacher said it is the responsibility of the college unit to release that fund to the election committee.
General Secretary Dr Himanshu Shekhar Choudhary said the election committee will not be able to hold a poll without funds. “So, the college and university units should contribute to the poll fund immediately,” he added.
Another general secretary Dr BN Singh said that since the election code of conduct has been implemented, he would not make any comment on it but a meeting should have been held to discuss over budget of the poll and sources of funds.
“Now, it is the responsibility of the election committee as well as the coordinator to arrange funds from college\ university units,” said Dr Singh.
A teacher of BBMKU said the poll process has been completely delayed and derailed. First, the chief of the election committee Dr Das went out of the district and when he returned, coordinator KM Singh went to his native village. In such a situation who would conduct the poll?, he asked.
This is the second election of BBMKU TA that has been due since 2021. The first election was held in 2018.
However, Dr, SKL Das denied the allegation that the election is being delayed to give an advantage to some teachers in getting posts in the university administration.
“There is no pressure from any quarter to delay poll. Only November 6 and 7 are working days and the university will be closed till November 22. No meeting of teachers can be called during vacation. If all goes as per plan election will be held in the second week of December,” he said.
