KOCHI: Hundreds of graduate students in Kerala aspiring to do post-graduate courses at the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi are upset with the university scheduling its entrance for post-graduate courses on Monday when the state goes to polls. They were going to cast their maiden vote in this election.
Interestingly, there is only one examination centre in the state at Thiruvananthapuram and the entrance for two MA programmes is scheduled in the morning and the entrance for four MA programmes and one PhD is scheduled in the afternoon.
“Students from Kasargod itself are appearing for the exam and it would be difficult for them to exercise their franchise after attending the entrance exam. So what is needed is either postponement of the elections or allowing at least five centres in the state,” said Rayson Kuriakose, a BA political science student of the Maharaja’s College and a candidate for the exam.
“Interestingly the exam centre at KV Pattom has now been shifted to a building near KIMS in Thiruvananthapuram as the school has polling station. So it is clear that it is difficult to hold the exam on the day itself. Students got their hall tickets this week and got to know the date,” said Rayson.
Meanwhile, National Students Union (NSU) (I) president and Angamaly UDF candidate Roji M. John in a Facebook post said that the issue has been brought to the notice of the state government. “I condemn the decision to conduct the entrance exam on the same day (May 16) of polling in multiple states in India. This is a blatant attack towards democracy,” said Roji a former student of JNU, added.
