The counting for votes Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) polls resumed after more than 12 hours of interruption Saturday evening. Earlier in the morning, the counting was stopped after Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members protested alleging they were not informed about the process.
The Election Committee (EC) assigned the task of conducting polls said the counting resumed after the Grievance Redressal Committee appointed an observer – who happens to be a JNU Professor – to be present during the counting.
The counting was stopped at around 4 a.m on Saturday when some ABVP activists insisted on entering the counting centre and a demanded a recounting of votes, accusing the EC of colluding with the Left groups and keeping them deliberately out.
ABVP also claimed that their counting agent was not informed about the beginning of counting of votes polled in science schools.
The EC in its turn said that announcements were made for the candidates' agents to join the counting at the centre as per rules, but they cannot join the process once the ballot box seals are broken.
In a statement, the JNU Election Committee said it suspended the counting temporarily but refused to name the party which protested.
Members of Left student unions alleged that the ABVP created a ruckus. The ABVP denied the allegation.
"The counting process, which began on September 14 at 10 pm has been suspended due to forcible entry into the counting venue and attempts to snatch away the sealed ballot boxes as well as ballot papers from our counting centres," according to the Left bloc.
They also claimed that their members, including women, faced intimidation.
The Left bloc claimed, "Around 4:00am, ABVP broke the glasses of the School of International Studies building. EC stopped the counting indefinitely."
They also claimed the ABVP counting agent was called but he did not turn up on time.
Vijay Kumar, ABVP president of JNU, said their counting agent was not called and the counting process was initiated in front of the members of the Left outfit.
"We protested peacefully as the EC is biased towards the Left. We did not create any ruckus," he said.
The voter turnout in the keenly contested Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) election on Friday was 67.8 per cent, believed to be the highest in six years. Over 5,000 students cast their votes.
The Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA), Students' Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Students' Federation (DSF) and All India Students' Federation (AISF) have come together to form the United-Left alliance.
Besides the Left bloc, there are candidates of ABVP, NSUI (National Students' Union of India) and BAPSA (Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association).
Technical glitches in EVMs had led to a ruckus during the counting process for Delhi University Students' Union polls on Thursday, leading to suspension of counting for close to three hours. The counting had resumed only after parties reached a consensus.
The polling for the annual union elections was held on Friday in which nearly 70 per cent students exercised their franchise to elect their President, Vice President, General Secretary and Joint Secretary.
(With agency inputs)
