Imphal, April 25 2009: The dispute over the conduct of election to the post of president of Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) persisted with the spurned presidential candidate K Ranjita Devi slamming the Election Committee with allegations of being partial and preferential treatment.

Reacting to the clarification issued by the election committee and published in the media, Ranjita Devi in a statement ridiculed the Committee's eleventh hour notification that every aspiring candidate needs to submit original certificate of class XII at the time of filing nomination papers.

Insisting that the particular notification circulated on April 15 evening meant candidates were left with no option due to time constraint, Ranjita said as election for the Outer manipur Parliamentary constituency was slated for the next day (April 16) aspiring candidates were certain to miss the deadline as many of the students had left for their respective place to exercise their democratic rights.

Pointing out that such a criteria for the contestants to submit class XII original certificate within a limited period was intended to ensure election of candidate of the Committee's choice, Ranjita also reminded the Committee members on the procedural complications in obtaining the documents.

Further contending that she had also apprised the Committee on the time constraint in submitting the said document, Ranjita further posed why the Committee inserted the criteria in the nomination form.

Not ruling out conspiracy theory and ulterior motive in the issuance of the notification, she also recounted that never in the history of the manipur university Students' Union (MUSU) elections had the presidential post been filled up without a rival candidate.

Further highlighting that in addition to the manipur university Students' Union (MUSU) president and 22 of the councillors having been elected without contest, Ranjita claimed that three departments yet to be represented owing to absence of contestants is a testimony of favouritism and preferential treatment of the Committee.

Moreover, the fact that some of the councillors had not complied with the formality prescribed by the Committee itself nullifies the stricture that the entire election exercise had been based on viable formality, the president aspirant noted.

Regarding the issue of Dean Prof Islamuddin tendering resignation but the intimation not accepted by the Vice Chancellor till april 20, Ranjita demanded clarification from the Committee what status had been accorded to Prof islamuddin during the interim period when he showed up on the day of scrutiny on april 18 .

other alleged anomalies listed by Ranjita included hasty appointment of RO and the Committee's insistence that any untoward incident arising out of the MUSU poll should be shouldered by her.

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