JNU votes for new union after 4 years,results tomorrow

Counting began at 9 pm on Thursday,beginning with the votes for the 30 councillors for different schools. The election committee,comprising about 35 students,was expected to count votes all night at the School of International Studies.

The results are expected on Saturday morning,after which a new students’ union will be formed at the varsity.

Twelve voting booths were set up at four schools of the University. Organisations made last minute attempts to persuade students to vote for them and members were seen chanting the names of the Central Panel candidates outside polling booths. Independent candidate Baljeet Singh from the Centre for Political Studies,was seen handing out slips of paper to students that read “Do Not Vote For Me. Fight Lyngdoh”.

Many students,who were voting for the first time since they entered JNU,said for them the deciding factor was more the party and its ideology,than its candidate. “I have seen them work in the last five years,I’m aware of their accomplishments so I made a choice,” said Paromita Chakravarti from the School of Social Sciences (SSS).

S K Sopory,JNU Vice-Chancellor,said he was happy the elections were conducted successfully. He said the administration was looking forward to having a students’ union after four years. “When I joined,I had promised that JNUSU elections will be restored and I’m happy that we have been able to deliver that. The administration will work through them,” Sopory said.

Students said that most people made their decisions after hearing out all candidates in the University general body meeting and the presidential debate,and that the last minute campaigning by the organisations did not make a difference. “We have seen them work since the time of our admissions to present. We know their credentials and usually make a choice after the presidential debate,” said Isha from SSS.