JNU Polls: Result expected today; ABVP, Left accuse each other of roughing up members

The results of the much talked about Jawaharlal Nehru University Student’s Union (JNUSU) polls are in most likelihood to be declared on Sunday. On Saturday morning, counting of votes was suspended because the building where ballot boxes were stored was attacked. Counting resumed on Saturday evening.

On Saturday morning the counting of the votes was indefinitely suspended at 4:00 am, after members of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) allegedly attacked the School of International Studies building where the ballot boxes were stored, damaged the building infrastructure too. ABVP alleged that the vote counting process started without their information.

An ABVP member said, “EC members have started counting with the Left workers without calling the ABVP counting agent at the time of introduction of first round counting (Science School and other special centres). Both the EC members and the left are plotting a rigging of the elections. We do not consider this an election.”

Several members of the Jawaharlal Nehru (JNU) Election Commission (EC) got severely injured in the attack by ABVP. The JNU EC demanded an unconditional apology from the ABVP. Left and right-wing student organisations accused each other for causing the mishap. A police case was registered at the Vasant Kunj police station.

Former union vice president of JNU, Shehla Rashid took to her Twitter account and expressed outrage over the incident. “Shocked! Never seen something like this in JNU. ABVP goons broke glass doors and forcibly tried to enter the #JNUSU_Election2018 counting venue last night. They attacked the members of Election Committee and tried to snatch ballot boxes. Counting suspended.”

The Commission then decided not to allow any counting agent during the counting of the votes. A JNU professor has been appointed as an observer who will be present during the counting process.

As per reports, the Left Unity leading in the presidential election. ABVP are in the second place, with RJD in third.

The Left Unity is also leading in the votes for the Vice President (VC) and General Secretary (GC). Close to the heels of Left Unity are the ABVP in both VC and GC segments.

However, the ABVP is leading in votes for the position of the Joint Secretary. Lafet Unity is not trailing far behind ABVP and in third position is National Students’ Union of India

Nearly 67.8 per cent voters exercised their right in this JNU election. It is believed to be the highest in six years. More than 5,000 students cast their votes.

Also read: Tweets: Well known personalities show support for Umar Khalid on recent attack