THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The clash between the UDF and LDF sympathisers in the University of Kerala has aggravated. The verbal duel that was earlier confined to the senate and the syndicate took a new turn as sympathisers of the warring factions took the protests to the streets, shouting slogans. With the university staff joining these protests, based on their party allegiance, the functioning of the university is somewhat disrupted.
The controversy that started off with the complaint filed by the syndicate section officer Bindu against misconduct of the syndicate member Thonnakkal Jamal, flared up following a complaint lodged by syndicate member Jolly Jacob who alleged that CPM district secretary Kadakampally Surendran had verbally abused her during a syndicate meeting. The two factions have lodged complaints with several top officials ranging from the police to the Governor.
The LDF protest that has been going on at the university for the last three weeks demanding the ouster of the syndicate member Thonnakkal Jamal, who has allegedly insulted section officer Bindu, has now metamorphosed into a hunger strike. As opposed to this, the faction of University staff and teachers owing allegiance to UDF demanded the ouster of Kadakampally Surendran from the senate. As a number of CPM district level leaders came to the rescue of Kadakampally, many UDF leaders including Ramesh Chennithala spoke in favour of Jamal.
Meanwhile, the attempts of the university officials to patch up the problem, instead of ascertaining the veracity of the events and initiating necessary action, have further complicated the situation. As numerous employees of the University joined these protests, the functioning of various departments within the university including that of the examination section has come to a grinding halt.
Amidst all the sound and fury that still ensues between the left and the right, the syndicate will meet today. Earlier, a special senate meeting that was held to decide the panel to elect the vice chancellor was dismissed owing to the furore. The decision to suspend the University Employees Union general secretary has been included in today's agenda. This might upset the syndicate meeting today.
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