Uncertainty has gripped the University of Calicut campus ahead of the elections to the university Syndicate to be held on Friday. The High Court on Wednesday made an observation that the Syndicate election would be subject to the disposal of a case filed against the candidature of five nominated Senate members.
Former Syndicate members T.P. Ahamed, T.V. Ibrahim, P.M. Niyas, Sainul Abid Kotta, and T.P. Ashrafali were nominated to the Senate by the Governor on different dates in September and October. They are among the 25 candidates contesting to the 13 seats in the Syndicate. Besides them, seven students are contesting to the lone student seat as well.
While seven of the 13 seats are for non-teacher categories, four are for teachers and two for Principals. Elections are to be held on Friday to the 14 seats, including the student seat.
The candidacy of the five former Syndicate members has been challenged in the court on technical grounds. With the court saying that their election would be subject to the final verdict in the case, serious discussions have begun within the political parties which have nominated them. All of them except Mr. Niyas have been nominated by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Strong differences have reportedly risen within the IUML over their candidature, especially as it is feared that a verdict against them might put the entire election in jeopardy because their votes could also go invalid along with their candidature.
