Srinagar
In a recent JNU student polls , The Left unity has won all four key posts in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) polls. A south Kashmir boy Aejaz Ahmed Rather has become the new General Secretary of the university. While as N Sai Balaji has been elected as President after winning with a margin of over 1,000 votes, and Sarika Chaudhary won the post of Vice President with a higher margin of over 1500 votes and Amutha Jayadeep is Joint Secretary.
The report by Indian Express said that counting process, which began on Friday, was marred with allegations of rigging and had to be stopped for over 14 hours on Saturday. The ABVP had alleged that the Election Committee was attempting to rig the polls.
Leaders of the RSS affiliated student organisation stormed the counting centre around 3 am Saturday and allegedly tried to snatch ballot papers, and “intimidated” the EC, accusing them of starting counting without the presence of their polling agent. They remained inside the building until 5.30 pm, the report said.
“The counting process, which had began yesterday (September 14) at 10 pm has been suspended due to forcibly entering into the counting venue and attempt to snatch away sealed ballot boxes as well as ballot papers from our counting centres.
This was in addition to intimidation and violence on our EC, including on our female members led by a Presidential and a Joint Secretary candidate,” EC chairperson Himanshu Kulshrestha told Indian Express today morning.
Meanwhile, former JNUSU Vice-President Shehla Rashid Shora congratulated the student leaders from Kashmir Aeshal Nisar and Aejaz Ahmad Rather. Aeshal Nisar has been elected as President of Students’ Union at College of Vocational Studies, battling various efforts from ABVP to derail his campaign. Aejaz Ahmad Rather is the first Kashmiri to hold the post of General Secretary of JNU Students’ Union.
Rashid also appealed to all student leaders from Kashmir to come together and demand restoration of student unions in Kashmir.
