Imphal, April 24 2009: The Election Committee of the Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) 2009-10 has debunked the allegations of K Ranjita who reportedly aspired to contest for MUSU's presidential post.

A statement issued by the Election Committee signed by five members remarked that Ranjita's allegations were akin to blaming the mirror for a blemish on the face.

It was quite unfortunate for an aspiring presidential candidate not to have detail knowledge about the process of MUSU elections.

For a defeated candidate or candidates who could not contest any election, it was only natural to cry foul and make all kinds of complaints to the election committee and other people.

The same case is true not only in MU but also elsewhere, asserted the EC.

Questioning the extreme resentment of K Ranjita and her 2/3 associates against the notification which necessitated original certificates of Class X and XII while filing nomination papers, the EC asked as to how many other candidates could managed to enclose their original certificates.

As regards the question of K Ranjita about what is 'formal', the EC explained that the word 'formal' in the context means submitting written representations/complaints to the Election Committee by the candidates and other relevant individuals rather than raising an uproar on the day of scrutiny by hiring some people and attacking the office of the VC by eggs and tomatoes.

Raising all kinds of hue and cry through the media after lapse of time instead of making complaints to the EC in time, would not yield any result, the Election Committee said apparently referring to the press statements of Ranjita.

Reminding the significance of the proverb, "A stitch in time saves nine", the EC pointed out the incongruity of expressing one's likes and dislikes when the process is already over.

On the other hand, the decision of the MU authority to review the completed election process by constituting a committee has turned the prestigious institution (MU) into a 'joker studio'.

Quoting MUSU constitution, they asserted that the Election Committee is an autonomous body and no one has the right to interfere against any decision of the EC.

As such, MU officers and Deans may take dozens of decisions but there is no area where their decisions can be adjusted with the election of MUSU.

With regard to the constitution of a 'two men enquiry committee' based on the scrutiny report submitted by Dean of Students' Welfare Prof Islamuddin and media reports, the EC questioned the rationality of the scrutiny report furnished by Prof Islamuddin who resigned from being Dean of Students' Welfare on April 18 while the scrutiny was held two days later on April 20 .

As the election was already over, the word 'process' has no validity in the present context and logically the MU authority's decision to review election process lacked rationality, it asserted.

No one by the name of Ranjita filed nomination papers as a candidate for MUSU president or councillor.

As such, Ranjita is unknown to the EC, it noted.

Negating the assertion that it takes a long time to obtain original certificates of Class X and XII, the EC observed that these certificates may be obtained directly from the Council and Board or from schools.

Even if it requires signatures and seals of the heads of schools, the period given by the Election Committee was long enough to complete all these procedures.

That was why, many candidates from far off places and five candidates belonging to hill districts as well as proposers and seconders of many candidates from hill districts could enclose original certificates at the time of filing nomination papers, the EC asserted.

Moreover, it calls for greater effort as compared to others if one intends to contest the elections, it observed.

To another reported question of Ranjita whether the election notification contained any clause which specified that written complaints should be submitted to the EC if any candidate has difficulties filing nomination forms, the EC asserted that such clause need not be inserted as it was too obvious and understandable.

Being an autonomous body, the EC cannot entertain and act on verbal complaints of one individual or a group.

That all complaints to the EC should be in black and white is known to even High School students, leave apart University students, it iterated.

Asserting that all relevant persons/groups should work to save the image of Manipur University, it conveyed that the EC made its best efforts in this regard for the committee was put in a responsible position though for a very brief period.

Because of these efforts, the EC can guarantee that no one with forged certificate was given the opportunity to become the leader of MU students, it declared.

It further asked whether Ranjita would like to witness issues similar to that of H Ashirjit who was not only allowed to study in Manipur University by its authority but also elected president of MUSU.

Further ridiculing the reported question of Ranjita whether the EC could guarantee that no student would let down the prestige of Manipur University by authenticating only the candidates, proposers and seconders, the Election Committee observed that the question was comparable to a student having intention to pass his/her exam by using unfair means asking the invigilator whether use of unfair means can be checked throughout Manipur by keeping strict vigil at the particular exam centre.

Saying that its decision taken after receiving formal complaints from three candidates��Prasanta of Economics Department, Naresh of Commerce Department and Vedanta Sharma of Philosophy Department, on the last day of filing nomination papers was circumstantial, the EC clarified that the decision was issued as an addendum after considering the complaints received at 3.57 pm of the day.

There have been instances of RO/chairman abducted by unidentified persons or the ROs resigning themselves at the time of MUSU election in the previous years.

However, such incidents could not serve as any indicator about the veracity of the elections held.

If there is any RO sent by MU A-Block within the Election Committee, elections can be conducted without violating any rules, it iterated while calling upon the public to hold Ranjita responsible in the event of any untoward incident to any one of the Election Committee members.

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