Guwahati: Protesters at Gauhati University demanded immediate counting of votes for the Post-Graduate Students’ Union (PGSU) election held on Thursday.Students took to the streets to protest after the university deferred counting following a dispute over the general secretary and social service secretary posts. Seven of the 18 official portfolios were won unopposed, while candidates contested nine posts.The presidential contest drew the most attention, with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) Yubaraj Bhattacharya, All Assam Students’ Union’s (Aasu) Arunav Duwarah and independent candidate Manas Pratim Das in the fray.The declaration of unopposed winners for the general secretary and social service secretary posts triggered protests. Some students alleged that nomination papers submitted by candidates with valid documents were rejected to ensure uncontested victories in the two posts.A university official said counting was originally scheduled for Thursday, immediately after polling, as announced in an earlier notice. However, following the dispute, particularly over the general secretary’s post, the university decided to defer the process until a decision was taken on the two posts.Meanwhile, Aasu made gains at Cotton University, securing key leadership positions. ABVP won four seats, while Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti secured five in the final tally.Aasu-backed candidates won the top posts in the Cotton University Student Union election. Hari Prasad Chetia was elected president and Ujjal Deka general secretary. Angelina Basumatary of SMSS was elected vice-president. The results were declared on Thursday.
