Rucsu campaigns kick off amidst tight competition

Campaigning for the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu) election officially began today (14 September), setting the stage for a highly competitive race.

Both the Rucsu Election Commission and the candidates have completed their preparations, ensuring a smooth start to the electoral process.

The election commission released the final list of candidates for Rucsu, hall union, and Senate student representative elections tonight.

Earlier in the evening, ballot numbers were assigned to candidates through a lottery conducted by the election commission and returning officers.

Chief Returning Officer Professor Setaur Rahman said that following the publication of the final list with ballot numbers, candidates can now officially begin campaigning.

Following the withdrawal of 14 candidates today, including two vying for the vice president (VP) post, the race now features 247 contenders for central union positions, 58 for senate student representative posts, and about 600 candidates for hall union elections across 17 residential halls.

According to the final list published on the commission's website, 18 are running for vice president (VP), including only one woman; 13 are contesting the general secretary (GS) post, with four women among them; and 16 are competing for assistant general secretary (AGS), including two women.

In the other categories, eight candidates are vying for the sports secretary post and six for assistant sports secretary. Ten candidates are in the race for cultural affairs secretary and nine for assistant cultural affairs secretary. Six are contesting the women's affairs secretary position and eight are competing for assistant women's affairs secretary. Thirteen candidates are running for information and research secretary, while eight are in the contest for assistant information and research secretary.

Nine candidates are seeking the media and publication secretary post and another nine are contesting the assistant media and publication secretary post. Nine candidates are in the fray for science and technology secretary and eight for assistant science and technology secretary. Six candidates are running for debate and literary affairs secretary, while eight are contesting assistant debate and literary affairs secretary. Twelve are competing for environment and social welfare secretary and sixteen for assistant environment and social welfare secretary. In addition, 55 candidates are running for the post of executive member.

As per the election schedule, voting will take place on 25 September. Chief Election Commissioner Prof AF Nazrul Islam confirmed that eight academic buildings and the Senate Bhaban have been designated as polling centres.

As campaigning gains momentum, 10 panels have been announced, representing various alliances and factions within the university. 

With 28,905 registered voters, this year's Rucsu election is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched and fiercely contested in recent memory.