by Alok Mohit
PATNA: Janata Dal (United)-supported candidates have swept the Patna University Students’ Union (PUSU) elections, bagging four of the five central panel posts.
While the RSS-backed Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) won the general secretary’s seat, candidates supported by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Left parties drew a blank.
Anand Mohan of Chatra Janata Dal (United) was elected PUSU president, defeating his nearest rival Shaswat Shekhar of the Congress-backed NSUI by 1,193 votes. Mohan polled 3,710 votes.
Chatra JD(U)’s Vikramaditya Singh, Sandhya Kumari and Ravikant were elected vice president, joint secretary and treasurer. The post of general secretary went to ABVP’s Vaibhav.
This was Chatra JD(U)’s best performance since 2018 when it won the post of the president for the first time.
The elections were held on Saturday in which 54.53% of more than 24000 students voted. The maximum turnout of 81.9% was recorded at Patna College of Art and Craft, followed by 68.7% at Patna Women’s College, 58.9% at Magadh Mahila College, 58.7% at Science College, 50.8% at Patna College and 45.3% at BN College. Counting of votes was taken up in the evening and it continued till late in the night.
Soon after conclusion of the voting, several rounds of firing took place near the Patna College gate which created a chaotic situation on the premises.
Patna Town deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Ashok Kumar Singh said some anti-social elements fired in the air at around 2 pm.
