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Race for Mumbai university's vice chancellorship heats up

At least three top officials from the university are eyeing the hot seat. Pro vice chancellor Naresh Chandra, director of board of colleges and university development Rajpal Hande, and dean of faculty of arts Prahlad Jogdand are among them, sources told dna.

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As Mumbai university's controversial vice chancellor Rajan Welukar's term ends on 7 July this year, the race for his chair is heating up. Several of the aspirants are his close colleagues who not only work with him under the same roof, but also have lunch and tea with him.

At least three top officials from the university are eyeing the hot seat. Pro vice chancellor Naresh Chandra, director of board of colleges and university development Rajpal Hande, and dean of faculty of arts Prahlad Jogdand are among them, sources told dna.

A few college principals are also said to be trying their luck. Suhas Pednekar, principal of Ruia College, Matunga, Vishnu Magare, principal of Kirti College at Dadar, and Uday Salunkhe, director of Welingkar institute of management at Matunga are said to be among the strong contenders.

Other names doing the rounds in the academic circles are vice chancellor of SNDT women's university Vasudha Kamat, and VC of Yashwant Rao Chavan open university at Nashik, MM Salunkhe.

Interestingly, most of these names have a background in science. Chandra is a botanist, Hande and Magare are zoologists and Pednekar and MM Salunkhe are chemists.

A few names from other parts of Maharashtra and the country could come up later, as the last date for applying is May 15. The stakes are high because Mumbai university is among the largest in India, with over seven lakh students in 740 colleges and over 50 departments and centres spread across six big districts of Maharashtra.

The aspirants are tight lipped over their candidature, barring only Jogdand who confirmed that he had submitted his CV. Naresh Chandra, for instance, refused to comment. Pednekar and Hande chose not to respond. Magare denied having any such ambitions but his reply is open to speculation- "I have not applied as of now."

MM Salunkhe said, "Many people are that I apply, but I am happy being with YCMOU. I have already served stints as VC at central university, Rajasthan, and Shivaji university, Kolhapur. Moreover, more than four years of my term are still left."

Vasudha Kamat said, "Who told you that I have applied (for the post)? First you tell me the name of that person, then I will comment."

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