Kathmandu: Thirteen student unions, affiliated with various political parties, have decided to launch a fresh agitation if the Tribhuvan University does not announce the date for a Free Students’ Union (FSU) election shortly. A meeting of office bearers of the unions on Thursday decided to stage various protest programmes unless the university decides the poll date soon.

While, despite regular meetings with major student unions, the TU has not yet fixed the date, the former are divided over the election modality. There is no agreement over the election system as the unions are locking horns. Of the 13 unions, 10 are advocating proportional election system while the Nepal Students’ Union and the All Nepal National Free Students’ Union (ANNFSU) Sixth have been arguing for the continuation of the first-past-the-post system. The CPN-UML-affiliated ANNFSU is adopting a middle path, proposing two mechanisms—an FSU Council based on proportional system and an FSU through direct election. However, the union leaders have said they are ready to forge consensus on the modality if TU begins preparations for the election.

source: The Kathmandu Post, 8 Dec, 2011