JNUSU polls: Admin cries foul, issues notice to EC; bid to delegitimize poll process, says ex-prez Balaji

Two days after Election Committee has handed over final results of the JNUSU polls to the administration in a sealed envelope, Grievance Redressal Cell (GRC) of the university – allegedly under the pressure from the administration - has issued a notice to the EC, seeking reply for the “violations of the guidelines” recommended by the Lyngdoh Committee.

The GRC blamed Election Committee - which is appointed by the students - for violating the constitution of the JNUSU and guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.

Signed by the chairperson of the GRC, Ashok Kadam, the notice has set September 11 as the deadline for the reply, stating “you (EC) are directed to submit your reply along with relevant documents in support of your defence”.

Refuting charges levelled by the GRC, caretaker president of the JNUSU, N Sai Balaji told NH that the JNU administration has long been trying to “rig the JNUSU election in a bid to favour ABVP.”

“Notice sent by the GRC is an extension of RSS’ effort to malign JNU. As long as elections in JNU are held under the watch of the students appointed EC, ABVP cannot win the election. That is why, through GRC, administration under the directions of the RSS-BJP is trying to delegitimize the whole process,” he added.

Demanding “immediate withdrawal of the notice and unconditional apology from the GRC,” Balaji accused RSS and the BJP of influencing the JNUSU election.

He also said that two students who have filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, following which the Court put a stay on the announcement of the election results are inclined towards the RSS.

On September 7, Balaji had made similar assertions in a Facebook post.

“One of the two petitioners in the case, Anshuman Dubey was part of Ramjas Union and was close to ABVP. Anuj Dwivedi is sitting ICC student representative. JNU students have boycotted ICC elections, only ABVP fields its candidates.

The lawyer representing them is a known RSS person Dibyanshu Pandey who has previously been involved in such planted cases against JNU Students and teachers,” said Balaji in his post.

Balaji also blamed JNU VC for using “every institutional power to give ABVP advantage”.

Hailing the results, according to the trends in which Left unity clearly has swept the election, Balaji added that Left unity secured nearly 43 % of the total votes where as AVBP could secure only 18 % of the votes share.

Meanwhile, it has come to the notice that JNU administration on Monday has sent an email to EC members, directing them to meet Kadam on Wednesday. However, the purpose of the meeting was not mentioned in the mail.

It’s worth mentioning here, as per trends, left unity is set to win the posts of president, Vice President, general secretary with considerable margin over rival ABVP.