Imphal, April 20 2009: A new president of the Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) has been elected on the day of scrutiny today as there was no rival candidate for the post.

Polling for election of MUSU president was scheduled on April 24 .

According to a press release issued by the Returning Officer and the chairman of MUSU Election Committee (2009-2010), Philem Ibosana, Research Scholar in Political Science has been elected MUSU president.

Moreover, 21 councillors have also been elected.

On other hand, a group of students who could not contest the election, alleged that a handful of individuals manipulated the election processes followed earlier with a conspiracy.

One aspiring presidential candidate Konthoujam Ranjita but could not contest the election, alleged that the election committee and the MU authority not only forfeited the right to contest election but also violated recommendations of the JM Lyngdoh Commission.

Speaking to media persons at Manipur Press Club here today, Ranjita said that the election notification issued on April 15 stipulated that nominations papers could be submitted till 4 pm of April 18.It also specified that original certificate (photostat copies) of class X and class XII should be enclosed.

But April 16 being polling day for Lok Sabha elections, it caused severe difficulties to students, particularly belonging to far off places and hill districts in obtaining the original certificates within the short period, she said.

Following protest by students, another notification was issued at 4.10 pm of April 18, the last day of filing nomination papers that provisional certificates might be used.

Moreover, initiating election process when semester exams of three streams were yet to be declared was against the recommendations of Lyngdoh Commission, said Ranjita adding that she refrained from filing nomination papers seeing all these irregularities.

She also urged upon the MU authority to make arrangements for a new election at the earliest.

On the other hand, when scrutiny was underway in MU Recreation Hall, some students who could not file nomination papers and contest the elections raised an uproar by burning benches and pelting stones.

Police resorted to firing tear gas shells to control the situation.

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