With the dates fast approaching for the 2019 edition of Cotton University Students’ Union (CUSU) polls, the candidates are leaving no stone unturned as everyone wants to be a part of the prestigious CUSU which has a glorious past.
With 90 per cent girls contesting this year for various post, a fifth-semester degree student of the Assamese department is the first-ever girl in the 101-year history of Cotton University to contest for the post of General Secretary (GS).
Rhishikanya Batswa is contesting against two boys for the GS post and is ready to face the battle with great aspirations.
“Right now, I am not thinking about me being the first girl candidate. My love for Cotton University is impeccable and if I win the elections, I will be able to do something good for the University. I also don’t want people to sympathize with me thinking that I am the first female candidate to contest for this post as I want them to vote for me considering my abilities and passion to do something for my University,” said Rhishikanya.
Here she is appealing for votes:
Rhishikanya filed her nominations on September 25th, 2019. She was accompanied by her supporters who took out a procession from the Mahendra Nath Deka Phukan Hostel to the University.
Speaking about her key issues on which she will work if she gets elected, Rhishikanya said, “I want to improve the format or structure of the examination routine of our varsity. We get our results late which creates a problem for us. I also want to build more hostels for girls and further, I will ensure that there are more classrooms for the students.”
Rhishikanya hails from Golaghat and currently, she is a boarder of Swahid Kanaklata Girls’ Hostel.
Speaking about the violence that goes hand-in-hand with students’ union elections in colleges across the country, she said that violence is not the answer to any situation and she believes that there should be a strict rule which can keep a check on such incidents.
Rhishikanya, who loves debating, said that students’ politics should not be severe in nature and in fact, students shouldn’t take the help of political parties or organisations to win or contest elections.
“With my nomination, I want to clear the misconceptions that politics is bad and it is not for women. Politics is for everyone as it means working for the good of society. I have busted one myth in Cotton University that a female candidate cannot contest in elections and I am glad that I did this. It will encourage other girls now onwards,” she said.
When asked about her idea of politics, she added,” Politics is an art of connecting with the public and the government.”
Campaigning for the elections will end on September 30th, 2019. The election will be held on October 1st, 2019 and the results will be declared on October 2nd, 2019.
The other two contestants against Rhishikanya are Simanta Das and Rahul Bordoloi. A total of 38 students have filed their nominations for the 16-member students’ union body.
This year the results will not be declared on a polling day so as to keep a peaceful environment in the university campus. The election committee has decided to take strict action against those students who will violate the rules and regulations during the election period.
Photo credit: rhishikanya.batswa
