Ranchi, Dec. 9: Ranchi University's (RU) campus polls, which took place after a gap of nine years today, failed to get the desired response from students as the overall voting figure across the 15 constituent colleges, two affiliated units and postgraduate departments remained a dismal 24 per cent. In the last polls held in 2007, the figure was 40 per cent.
Around 1.13 lakh students exercised their franchise amid tight security at 199 polling booths. A total of 437 candidates contested for the five posts of president, vice-president, secretary, deputy secretary and additional secretary in each college.
According to polling officer B.K. Sinha, the maximum voting percentage of 93.5 was recorded at RTC BEd College, one of the two affiliated units.
In contrast, the other unit, Jaspuria BEd College, recorded zero voting as there was a single candidate for five posts. Hence, polling was postponed.
"Among the colleges based in city, Ranchi College clocked the best voting percentage of 39.5 per cent, followed by Ranchi Women's College (35.6 per cent). At Marwari College, the figure was a dismal 20.3 per cent and 11.4 per cent at Doranda College," Sinha said.
Of the campuses outside the city, Birsa College, Khunti, recorded merely 17.8 per cent. The postgraduate departments were better placed with voting per cent of 37.7.
Asked about such low turnout, RU vice chancellor R.K. Pandey said: "Our voting percentage was affected due to zero per cent polling at Jaspuria college. Also, many students were unaware about the elections as they hardly attend classes."
Ashutosh Singh, Jharkhand convener of ABVP, added: "Many students were willing to vote but did not posses college identity cards. Hence, they were not allowed to cast their franchise."
At every campus, voting took place from 10.30am to 4.30pm under the watchful eyes of two magistrates and four policemen. <>Police control room (PCR) vans also were deputed to ward off any untoward incident.According to Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, no one, except voters, could be allowed to go near the polling booths.
The situation was peaceful at Marwari College with deputy returning officer P.P. Verma claiming that the percentage of boy voters was more than girls. A candidate at Marwari College, Priyanka Kumari, who contested for the post of deputy secretary on behalf of Ajsu, complained that her serial number had been changed. "In the nomination paper, it was 4, but it was later changed to 2. This led to confusion among our voters.""If CCTV cameras are not available, video documenting is mandatory," said Pandey, who toured Mandar College, Bero College and Khunti College outside the state capital.
"It was a peaceful polling and happy to reveal students in huge numbers came out to cast their votes," VC added.
This year students union election is significant as various student wings were opposing it and tried to create disturbances, but varsity was adamant holding polls. However many alleged that as compared to 2007 students union election, "This year, we were expecting more turn out of voters but it was not as expected. But we are hopeful to win," said a member of ABPV, who had put up small kiosk outside Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav College near Kokar.Total voting percentage- 24 percent
1) PG department, RU: 37.7 percent
2) RWC: 35.6 percent
3) Marwari college: 20.3 percent
4) Doranda college: 11.4 percent
5)Ranchi College: 39.5 percent
6) SS Memorial College: 16.1 percent
7) Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav College: 12.5 percent
8) JN College, Dhurwa: 18.7 percentÂ
9) Sisai college: 30.7 percent
10) Birsa College, Khunti: 17.8 percent
11)Simdega College: 31.1 Â percent
12) Lohardaga college: 19.4 percent
13) PPK College, Bundu: 32.5 percent
14) KCB College, Bedo: 26.3 percent
15) Mandar college: 16.2 percent
16) RTC B.ed College: 93.5 percent
17)Jaspuria B.ed college- nil  Â
