JNUSU 2018: Did the EC open the ballot boxes in the absence of ABVP?

As per media reports, Left alliance is leading in all four central panel posts, but there have been some damning reports of possible electoral malpractices in JNUSU elections 2018.

Here are two testimonials that students mailed to us.

Testimony# 1: Aditya Pratap Singh. He is a final year student at Gujarat National Law University, interested in Law, Politics and Public Policy

Stunned by the overwhelming victory of ABVP in DUSU election, Left organisations decided to resort to foul-crying to save their face in JNUSU. Left organisations alleged that ABVP members resorted to violence to disrupt the counting process. However, another side of the alleged event remains untold in the mainstream media.  Shri Ashish Chauhan, National General Secretary, ABVP clarified that Election Committee of JNUSU, which is heavily dominated by Leftists, opened the ballot boxes without the presence of ABVP candidates and counting in-charge.

In his tweet, he said that, ABVP representatives were made to wait at the main gate for I-Card checking and, in the meantime, EC started the counting process. It is noteworthy that the EC member who ushers the candidates and counting agent to the designated seats didn’t appear. 

It is pertinent to mention that it is mandatory to make 3 calls before counting may begin. ABVP representatives were present at the gate on the first call. Following this, EC member denied entry to ABVP members. To this, ABVP members protested at the gate after which counting was halted. 

However, the whole event has been presented to indicate that ABVP members forcibly removed the ballot boxes while the other side of the event has gone unnoticed by the media. 

The whole incident took an ugly turn when the members of Left organisations resorted to hooliganism against ABVP members. Members of Left organisations assaulted ABVP members who were admitted to Safdarganj Hospital on Saturday’s evening. The ‘liberal Left organisation members’ also tore the clothes of a female ABVP member and verbally abused her and threatened to “kill all the ABVP members like a pig”. In another shameful comment, Left organisation members have allegedly said that ‘they will rape each and every Brahmin women.’ 

The events which have clouded the ongoing JNUSU elections 2018 are indeed shameful and there is no place for such shameful acts and remarks that have been allegedly made by the Left Organisations’ members. Student Elections are meant to mould the future leaders of the country. Hence, it is imperative that the leader of all student political party keep their members in control to ensure that no undesirable incident take place. However, the Left student leaders have been keeping mum on the alleged activities of their organisation.

While the picture remains blur as to which group is guilty of malpractice, it is imperative that the violence against ABVP members is prevented. Only a thorough inquiry would bring out the true facts regarding the alleged malpractice. Till then, both groups should ensure that counting process is completed without any disputes and in accordance with the procedures laid down. 

Testimony #2: Ojaswa Pathak. He is a third year Student at Gujarat National Law University , interested in Law, Politics and International Relations)

It has been reported by the various media outlets that the counting of votes for the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) polls was suspended early morning on Saturday after Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) members protested, alleging they were not informed about the process. It was claimed by the JNU Election Committee that it was suspended due to forcibly entering into the counting venue and attempt to snatch away the sealed ballot boxes as well as ballot papers from our counting centers. This was in addition to intimidation and violence on our Election Committee, including on our female members led by a Presidential and a Joint Secretary candidate

It was unclear whether the people who created the ruckus belonged to ABVP or not but it was claimed by the Left Bloc that they belonged to the ABVP faction.

Needless to say this allegation of the Left Bloc was completely baseless, it is interesting to note that The ABVP counting agent was not informed about the beginning of counting of votes polled in science schools which was a violation of the due procedure. Secondly, The Left Bloc combined of various parties including 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 and other vestiges of  opposition parties. Recently in a video clip tweeted by the Twitter handles of ABVP the members of the Left Bloc had assaulted members of ABVP in JNU Campus and had also manhandled lady members along with threatening to ‘rape the Brahmans’

This clearly shows how the offshoot of the Left party in India in JNU is inheriting their age old tradition of violence and undermining democracy.