Bhubaneswar, Nov. 1: A group of students of Rama Devi Women’s College today demonstrated in front of the institute’s main gate, demanding cancellation of the poll results, announced on September 29.

The students alleged that Pallavi Mohapatra, who was declared the winning candidate for the post of president of the students’ union, was elected as assistant general secretary in 2010-11, and therefore, not eligible to contest.

The students cited Section VI of the Lyngdoh Commission recommendations, which states: “The candidate shall have one opportunity to contest for the post of office bearer and two opportunities to contest for the post of executive member.”

“That the candidate was assistant general secretary is clearly mentioned in the list published in the college’s official magazine Arundhati 2010-11,” said Rajashree Rajasmita Bhanja, the candidate, who lost the presidential election.

A student said they had even brought the matter to the principal’s notice during filing of nomination, but she refused to take any action and allowed Pallavi to contest the poll.

“Moreover, she has been declared the winner. They did not even allow the candidates’ agents to enter the counting rooms,” said another student.

The students wanted the authorities to declare Rajashree as the valid and winning candidate of the poll. Holding placards and shouting slogans against the authorities, they threatened to continue the strike till their demands were met.

Pallavi said the rivals had threatened her.

“The allegations are baseless. I did not contest the poll last year.

“Since the post of assistant general secretary was lying vacant, the authorities had elected me for the post. This cannot be counted as contesting for polls,” she said.

Principal Sanghamitra Khuntia, too, echoed the same view by calling the allegations “baseless”.

“The college elections have ended with the oath taking and we are not going to take any decision on the polls. They are just handful of students and classes are running normally,” Khuntia said.