Nainital: Yatin Pandey, the university representative from MB College Haldwani, was elected unopposed as president of the Kumaun University Student Federation after a series of developments delayed the election process on Monday.
The election faced uncertainty in the morning after the police administration sent a letter to the chief election officer citing concerns over law and order and allegations that some university representatives were being held against their will. The development led to confusion over whether the election would proceed.
The situation escalated further when a candidate for the president’s post reportedly threatened self-immolation. Following the developments, a revised election notification was issued and the nomination process, originally scheduled to begin at 10 am, started an hour later at 11 am.
Pandey, who had been elected as the university representative from MB College Haldwani, was contesting for the president’s post. According to information available during the election process, he had more votes in support than the required number. The ABVP also claimed that Pandey had been declared its authorised candidate for the election.
No other candidate filed a nomination for the president’s post. As a result, Pandey was declared elected unopposed without a vote being held.
The election process was completed amid heavy security arrangements around the Hermitage Building. Officials said the security deployment was made to maintain law and order during the election.
According to the election notification issued by Election Officer Dr Manoj Kumar Arya and Dean of Student Welfare Prof Sanjay Pant, Jitendra Singh Dhami of Government College Sitarganj was elected unopposed as vice-president.
Suparna Bhakt of Government College Gadarpur was elected unopposed as girls’ vice-president. Sanchit Singh of HNB PG College Khatima was elected secretary, while Bhuvan Joshi of PNB PG College Ramnagar was elected treasurer. All four office-bearers were elected unopposed.
Before the final declaration, the ABVP had claimed that Pandey, who won the president’s post, was its authorised candidate. Pandey and his supporters, however, rejected the claim.
With the declaration of the results, the Kumaun University Student Federation election process was completed after the morning developments and delay in nominations.
