Controversy Erupts at Patna College During Student Union Elections Over Ballot Misprint

Synopsis

Tensions flared at Patna College during the Patna University Student Union elections when an independent candidate protested a ballot misprint. The incident led to a brief disruption in voting, highlighting the challenges faced in maintaining order during the elections.

Key Takeaways

Voting disruption caused by ballot name error.

Independent candidate Rinkle Yadav protested against misprint.

University authorities intervened to rectify the issue.

Tension among students heightened due to the incident.

Polling continues under strict security monitoring.

Patna, Feb 28 (NationPress) The Patna University Student Union elections are currently taking place on Friday, with heightened security measures in place. However, a moment of chaos briefly interrupted the polling process at Patna College earlier today.

The disruption arose when Rinkle Yadav, an independent contender for the PU Central Panel President role, accused the election officials of misprinting her name on the ballot. She asserted that she campaigned under the name “Rinkle Yadav”, yet the ballot papers displayed her name incorrectly as “Rinkle Kumar”.

In response, she reportedly tore up ballot papers in Room 5 of Patna College. The police intervened, detaining her for a short period before releasing her.

This incident caused a near 20-minute delay in voting.

The university authorities promptly acknowledged the situation and instructed polling staff to manually correct the name on the ballots using a pen.

Afterward, the candidates who protested moved to other voting booths on campus, continuing to voice their concerns regarding the name error. A similar incident of ballot paper tearing was also noted at B. N. College.

Witnesses indicated that the election atmosphere was already charged, and the brief detainment of the candidate further fueled student unrest. Classes and administrative functions were temporarily halted.

Police and university officials urged the student body to stay calm.

Authorities emphasized that maintaining law and order is paramount and warned that any disturbances would be met with strict measures.

The polling commenced at 8:30 a.m. and is expected to run until 2:30 p.m.

As of 11 a.m., voter turnout was recorded at 32% for Patna Women’s College, 27% at Patna Law College, 18% at Arts College, 13% at Commerce College, 16% at Patna College, and 16% at Patna Science College.

Voting is being closely monitored by police across all colleges.

A total of 41 candidates are vying for five central panel positions, along with 45 candidates competing for councillor roles. The central panel consists of 11 candidates for President, nine for General Secretary, eight for Vice President, six for Joint Secretary, and seven for Treasurer.

Vote counting is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. at Patna Arts College, with results anticipated to be announced late in the evening.

Despite the initial disruption, polling continues under vigilant oversight by the authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What caused the disruption at Patna College?

The disruption was caused by an independent candidate, Rinkle Yadav, who protested the misprinting of her name on the ballot.

How long was the voting disrupted?

Voting was disrupted for nearly 20 minutes due to the incident.

What actions were taken by the university authorities?

The university administration directed polling personnel to manually correct the candidate's name on the ballot papers.

How many candidates are contesting in the elections?

There are 41 candidates contesting for five central panel posts and 45 candidates for councillor positions.

What are the expected outcomes after the elections?