The fate of candidates in the student union election of DAV PG College here was sealed in the ballot boxes after the end of voting on Thursday. A total 3,608 students exercised their franchise on the day as 52.5 per cent of voting percentage was recorded in the day, which is highest ever in the history of the college.
The counting of votes and declaration of results would be done on Friday.
The polling in the biggest college of the State started on a slow note in the morning but later in the day it picked up as students came out to vote in good numbers. Barring minor incidents of skirmish outside the college campus the voting was by and large peaceful. Student supporters of Satyam and Aryan groups clashed outside the college but situation was quickly brought under control.
The college authorities had divided the college into two zones and twenty booths were set up for the polls. One zone and ten booths were reserved for girls while boys cast their votes in ten other booths.
Strict security measures were taken up in and around the campus and only students having identity cards were allowed to cast their votes. A scanner machine was also placed on the main entrance of the college which checked the identity cards. These machines checked the bar code of the card and after the properly checking the student he or she was allowed entry. Many students with forged identity cards were denied entry with the help of this machine. The Chief Election Officer of the college DK Tyagi said the elections were peaceful.
DAV PG College is considered as a formidable citadel of ABVP as its candidates have won the prestigious post of its President in last ten year consecutively. The last time the NSUI was able to capture this college was in the year 2006-7 when its candidate Sangram Singh Pundeer defeated Jitendra Rawat of ABVP to became President.
This year Shubham Simalti is the candidate of ABVP while NSUI has fielded Vikas Negi. Rebel group of NSUI have fielded Saurabh Mamgain which could prove costly for the organisation.
Counting of Votes
After the voting all eyes are now on counting of votes. The counting would start at 8.30 am on Friday. The college authorities sealed all ballot boxes and kept them safely in the strong room under police protection. The Principal of the college Devendra Bhasin said the police have been entrusted the task of guarding the ballot boxes after they were sealed and put inside the strong room. The college would remain closed on Saturday and it would reopen on Monday.
The Chief Election Officer, DK Tyagi said counting would be held on fifteen tables in three sections. In section I, the ballots of President and Vice President would be counted while in Section II, the counting of Secretary and Joint secretary would take place. In the III section the ballots of Treasurer, University Representative (UR) and Girls Representative (GR) would be counted. Each section would have five tables each. The counting would be held in four rounds and the results are expected in afternoon.