PATNA, Sept. 16 -- Once billed as a strong aspirant for Central University status, which it could not achieve despite CM Nitish Kumar's strong batting, Patna University (PU) is again trying to raise the issue ahead of election. The employees of the seventh oldest university, which has by far remained the best administered state university despite teething problems, frequent strikes and increasing politicisation of campus, have decided to take out a procession on September 20 to demand central varsity status. PU Employees' Union general secretary Farman Abbas said the march was an attempt to revive the memory of the people and the government towards the old and justified demand for central university status for PU with the hope that something positive could happen in election year. "We are in touch with past VCs, Pro-VCs, teachers, employees, alumni, including political leaders, syndicate members, students' union and all those who have been associated with the institutionto support us. Many of them have agreed to be part of it. It is a demand beyond politics, as all parties support it," he added. The procession will start from the PU main gate and march up to the Kargil Chowk. A decision to this effect was taken at the association's executive committee meeting. The demand had gained momentum during PM Modi's visit to PU in 2017 for inaugurating its centenary celebrations and there was much hope that the institution would be granted central university status. However, despite fervent appeal from Nitish Kumar, himself an alumni of the institution, the PM did not accede to it. In 2019, at the centenary celebrations of the PU Library on the Patna Science College ground, then Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu had also assured to discuss the issue after Nitish Kumar raised it once again and many students brought it to his attention by raising placards. But things still did not move, even as Bihar got three central varsities. Yet, the demand could never die out. The CM himself said at various fora that he had raised the issue in Parliament when he was MP and the state government had also placed its demand before the Centre. RJD also raised the matter in Assembly. However, the problem is that the institution has been reduced to a pale shadow of its glorious past, slipping out of the 151-200 band in the category of state public universities achieved last year in the latest list of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), which VC Ajay Kumar Singh attributed to institution's fall in public perception and lack of innovation and patenting. "We are working on reforms and campus discipline. We are striving for NAAC 'A+' grade, focussing on innovation and patenting by roping in the services of the best of available talent," Singh said....