Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP slam Mumbai University's decision to stay senate polls

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today criticised Mumbai University's decision to stay its senate polls, claiming that the move reflected the state government's “dictatorial” attitude and its fear to hold any kind of election.

The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students’ wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), however, welcomed the decision, citing that the university needs to correct the discrepancies in the voters’ list.

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Addressing a press conference, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray sought to know the reason behind the university's decision to stay the elections scheduled on September 10. “The chief minister is timid. They are not holding the Pune Lok Sabha bypolls and elections to the local self-governments. We thought at least the Mumbai University polls will take place. The senate will not bring down your government, but we will. So why are you scared of the senate?” Thackeray said.

He further said when the Yuva Sena led by him contested 10 seats in 2010, it won eight and it went on to clinch all 10 seats in 2017. Terming the university's move as detrimental to democracy, Thackeray said, “The polls were to be held on September 10 and no reason was given for stalling them.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that the state government was not conducting any election out of fear, be it for the two vacant Lok Sabha seats, the civic body polls or even the university's senate polls.

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Meanwhile, Chandragupt Bhide, convenor of the Vidyapeeth Vikas Manch, the ABVP's panel, in a statement said the university must correct the loopholes in the voters list before going ahead with the polls, as there is duplication of names. Governor Ramesh Bais, who is the chancellor of the university, was informed about the discrepancies through an e-mail, the statement said.

The Mumbai University on Thursday announced its decision to stay the elections to the senate. The senate is the institution's watchdog, with representatives of teachers, principals and the management. The NCP's youth wing vice-president Amol Matele said the vice-chancellor will be gheraoed till the time the election schedule is not announced.