The Chhatra Shibir-backed Odommo Jobian Oikya panel has alleged irregularities and chaos during the ongoing Jagannath University Central Students Union (Jnucsu) election.
Riazul Islam, president of Chhatra Shibir’s JnU unit, made the allegations at a press conference held in front of the Bhasha Shahid Rafique Bhaban on Tuesday morning. He is a candidate for the vice-president post in the polls.
He said, “The environment remained calm at the beginning of voting, but as student turnout increased, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists created chaos and engaged in scuffles at the main gate of the campus.”
Although the matter was reported to the police administration, they failed to bring the situation fully under control, he said.
Chhatra Dal activists obstructed the distribution of voter slips, harassed Shibir-backed activists, and misbehaved with female students, he also alleged.
“During visits to various departments, it was seen that Chhatra Dal polling agents were influencing students to vote for a particular panel, while voter slips of the Shibir-backed panel were being forcibly taken away,” he said.
He further alleged that at several polling centres, including those at the Physics, Philosophy, Political Science, and English departments, Chhatra Dal agents were present with panel-identifying booklets in violation of election rules.
When questions were raised over these issues, attempts were allegedly made to attack Shibir candidates and voters. Tension escalated at the English department, but the situation was brought under control following intervention by the president and general secretary of the teachers’ association.
Riazul Islam also expressed dissatisfaction with the role of the university’s Election Commission, claiming that despite being informed immediately, the commission said it was unaware of the incidents and failed to take effective action.
He accused the commission of bias in handling the situation.
Expressing concern over the possibility of large-scale violence during vote counting, Riazul said information had been received about the presence of outsiders and cadres around the campus, posing serious risks to election security.
He called for a tougher stance from the university administration and direct intervention by state authorities to ensure a free and fair election, warning that failure to control the situation could lead to major clashes.
