Kathmandu, Mar. 18: The much-awaited Free Student Union (FSU) election is being held across Tribhuvan University’s (TU) constituent and affiliated campuses nationwide on Tuesday. 

The voting takes place from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm in the respective colleges. The election aims to elect new student representatives responsible for advocating student rights and enhancing campus life.  

The FSU elections will take place in 48 out of 62 constituent colleges under Tribhuvan University (TU) on Tuesday, according TU Rector Dr. Khadga Bahadur KC.

Fourteen colleges have postponed their elections. Among them, election in three to four government colleges will be held on March 20-21, said Dr. KC.  

TU’s Central Campus in Kirtipur will conduct its election on March 21, while Padma Kanya Campus will hold elections on March 20. 

However, the dates for elections at Shanker Dev Campus, Nepal Law Campus, and Public Youth Campus are yet to be finalised, he added. 

Furthermore, election dates for campuses in Bhairahawa, Butwal, and Paklihawa are in the process of being rescheduled, and Janakpur’s Ramswarup Ramsagar Multiple Campus is yet to finalise its election procedures, said KC. 

Dr. KC confirmed that all preparations are complete for the elections, and the security system is put in place. 

He assured that no major clashes have occurred among competing student groups, except for a minor conflict in Morang, where members of the same student wing engaged in a dispute.

To ensure security, a total of 7,000 armed police personnel have been deployed across election venues, with additional personnel from Nepal Police stationed at polling booths. 

“The Ministry of Home Affairs has also issued directives to Chief District Officers (CDOs) in 76 districts for security arrangements. The National Human Rights Commission and the Nepal Bar Association will monitor the election process in various campuses,” said Dr. KC. 

Dr. KC clarified that TU does not coordinate FSU elections in public colleges, as the university lacks the resources for their management. Instead, management committee of the public colleges oversees election of their respective college, he said, adding, “TU oversees elections in its 62 government colleges, while the 1,053 public colleges under TU manage their own election processes.”

Dr. KC stated that elections will proceed smoothly in colleges across Koshi and Gandaki provinces. However, due to student disputes, election proceedings have been disrupted in five campuses inside the Kathmandu Valley and nine outside, according to TU officials. In the Valley, elections have been halted at TU Central Campus, Kirtipur, Padma Kanya Campus Bagbazar, Public Youth Campus Dhobichaur, Shanker Dev Campus Bagbazar and Nepal Law Campus Exhibition Road. 

A total of 25 student wings of major and small parties have been registered in scores of colleges across the country.