Battle for survival in University of Madras academic elections

Chennai: A routine academic exercise at the University of Madras has generated wide interest among the academicians from all over the state as two associations in the University - Madras University Teachers’ Association (MUTA) and Professors Forum of Madras University - are facing a tough survival test at a crucial syndicate election scheduled to be held on March 31.

 

For the first time, as many as 18 candidates, six of them being independents, are contesting for the six seats in the highest decision making body of the university. Madras University is one of the very few universities in the country where elections are held to all the academic bodies - academic council, the senate and the syndicate.

 

The unusually high number of independent candidates makes the contest a tough and intense one. The close contest has reportedly forced some of the candidates to try other ways of winning the elections like distributing money to the voters. 

 

“Caste and currency will have a major impact on the election. Some candidates are already distributing money to the senate members. Some candidates already mobilising their supporters on the lines of caste,” professors alleged.

The senate members alone can contest in the syndicate elections. As per the latest list released by the university, the senate has 124 members and each member can cast six votes. Among the 18 candidates, the top six candidates who get maximum votes will be elected to the Syndicate.

Professor S.S. Sundaram, general secretary, Professors' Forum of Madras University, said the forum has fought for issues concerning the autonomy and welfare of the university at the Syndicate and if elected their members will continue to work for the welfare of the university.

“We have opposed the redeployment of excess staff from Annamalai University to Madras University as the university statutes only permit the administration to recruit staff only through open advertisement,” he pointed out. 

He further attributed the financial crisis of the Madras University to the silence of the syndicate members from the opposition camp who were part of the building committee.

“We will oppose nepotism, favouritism and corruption in the university,” Professor Sundaram said. Traditionally, the Madras University Teachers' Association members used to win the elections easily. But in the 2015 election, out of 6 seats, 5 were won by the Forum members and one seat by the MUTA. It is a crucial election for MUTA as it tries to recapture ground lost in the previous election.

When asked about the significance of this election, Professor G. Ravindran, president of MUTA said any election is a test for the association based on the good works done by them or undone by them. He also viewed the increase in the number of independent candidates in a positive manner. “Whatever be the reason for the high number of independent candidates, I look at it in a positive way as the senate members will have more number of choices,” Professor Ravindran said.

On the influence of money and caste in the elections, he said, “As far as our association is concerned, we are against any kind of undemocratic practices whether it is money politics or the caste politics. These factors should not have any role in election.”

Explaining the election agenda of the MUTA he said, “We want to safeguard our university. We want to restore the glory of University of Madras in teaching and research and we want to fight out the corruption.”

Tamil Nadu Government College Teachers Association (TNGCTA) and Association of University Teachers (AUT), the supporters of MUTA, have decided to support the Professors' Forum in the syndicate elections. “They have very minuscule numbers in the senate. It will not affect the outcome of the results,” Ravindran said.

A section of professors said the support of M. Selvaraj, Principal of Guru Nanak College could be crucial as the self-finance college principals association is having more than 20 votes in the senate. A section of professors downplayed the hype by saying the syndicate is dominated by the Governor nominees and ex-officio members.

Sources said the state government is also keenly watching the syndicate election as the outcome will have an impact on implementing key policy decisions. Madras University Vice-Chancellor P. Duraisamy     said he had advised both the unions to strictly follow the rules during canvassing and also not to involve any students in this. 

When asked about the allegation of distribution of money to voters, he said, “The university will not hesitate to take action if it received any complaints.”