Confusion yet again!

By Ardra Balachandran

Twenty four hours haven't passed after the statement that counting will resume on September 11th and political chaos on campus has forced the Dean of Students' Welfare (DSW) to change the decision again. Official sources confirmed that counting has been deferred.

Apparently, a new complaint from students was referred to the Grievance Redressal Commitee (GRC) by the Vice Chancellor. Since the GRC needs 24 hours to look into this complaint, the counting that is supposed to happen on September 11th has been postponed until further decision. Meanwhile, the VC has also asked the GRC to submit a complete report on what has happened until now from the time of the General Body Meeting.

It is clear that without the support of all student organisations, counting cannot take place. At this point, that is the last thing that the DSW or the EC can claim.

Multiple contradicting statements from the authority and consistent conflict of ideas among political parties point towards one sure thing though – it is going to be long before University of Hyderabad will have Students' Union 2009-2010.

Counting on September 11

By Ardra Balachandran

The Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW) confirmed on September 10^th that the counting process would resume on Friday morning, September 11^th. Dr. Ananthakrishnan mentioned that the state has assured the required police forces on Friday and there is no need to wait any more. The process shall begin at 9 am and the results are expected to be out by 6 pm.

Coming to know of this announcement, the ABVP and the ASA-NSUI-DSU alliance came together against the decision. They stay put that the polling process was rigged and there is no meaning in carrying on with this election with the existing Election Commission (EC).

The presence of polling agents of all contestants is required for the counting process to happen. If these parties decide to boycott counting on Friday, the administration would not be able to do anything but to postpone it indefinitely. On the other hand, being the supreme authority on this matter, the EC also can boycott the process if it is postponed indefinitely against its wishes. But unless they resign, no re-election can happen. With all political parties except SFI in no mood to settle for anything other than a re-election, it looks like a perfect catch-22 situation!