Hundreds of students braved the scorching heat and flocked to polling booths set up at various departments to vote for Students’ Union Elections (2015-2016) on October 8.
The students’ groups standing for elections this year include last year’s winners, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) consisting of Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA) and others, also supported by the OBC Students’ Association. The Students Federation of India (SFI) has formed a coalition with the Dalit Students’ Union (DSU), TVV and Telangana Students’ Front (TSF) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is the third major group contesting without any alliances.
Security was beefed up across the campus to ensure smooth elections and the day saw a huge turnout with students lining up patiently at their departments to cast their vote for the six key positions and also three student councilors. More than 85% polling took place by end of the day. Candidates and their campaigners from different students’ groups were seen outside all the schools guiding the students and briefing them about the procedures at polling centers. There was abundance of poll material distributed everywhere on and prior to the day of elections.
With heated debates on social media platforms and fierce campaigning by different groups on the campus, the election is bound to be a tight race. Several exit polls were set up online a day before the elections and a poll on abcpoll.com showed the UDA panel leading with ABVP just behind.
The results are expected to be announced by evening on October 9.
-Shaima Mansoor, Department of Communication
PC-Sudha Singh