The nomination process for Magadh University Students’ Union (Musu) election came to an end on Tuesday.

However, confusion prevailed on the last day of the nomination because of the “lengthy” election process. Too many posts and an equal number of candidates sent the students looking for a guidebook that could simplify the poll process, which is being held after 32 years. The election is slated for February 14.

What added to the confusion was the MU administration’s frequent change in the election format. Though the election at 44 constituent colleges, spread across Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Nalanda, Nawada and Patna districts, is being conducted in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, it is different from the format under which Patna University election was held.

The magnitude of the process could be gauged from the fact that in AN College, Patna, there would be elections for 72 posts. This includes degree course students electing class representatives both under the faculty and year categories.

JD(U) students’ wing state president Ranjan Kumar said: “In the undergraduate courses, elections would be held for 12 posts (three each from first-, second- and third-year for humanities, science, social science and commerce).”

For the postgraduate courses, each subject will have separate class representatives that would be further divided year-wise. However, fellow research scholars (NET, CSIR, and those who receive fellowships) have been included in the respective subjects.

Ranjan added that the entire election process is so cumbersome that it took him at least a week to understand the poll format.

Echoing Ranjan, Neha Anand, a Bachelor in Business Management (BBM) first-year student at JD Women’s College, said: “We have come to know that in our college there will be direct contest for 41 posts.”

Anand added that apart from voting for class representatives, they would also have to vote for candidates contesting for five college posts, along with a university representative.

The five college posts include president, vice-president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer. There would be direct elections for the university representatives and for every 1,000 voters there would be a university representative.