Elections cancelled in KPCC

SURAT, Nov 26: The Sarvajanik Education Society, which runs the K P Commerce College, has cancelled the election to the students' council fo...

SURAT, Nov 26: The Sarvajanik Education Society, which runs the K P Commerce College, has cancelled the election to the students8217; council following apprehensions of largescale violence on the college campus.

Along with Sheth C D Barfiwala and Amroli Arts and Commerce College, K P Commerce had been identified as a sensitive college, as all three have a history of violence during students8217; elections.

Authorities heaved a sigh of relief after learning that all candidates for the posts of class representatives and general secretary in C D Barfiwala and Amroli Arts and Commerce would be elected uncontested as there was only one candidate in the fray for each of the posts.

But K P Commerce College, located in the posh Athwalines area, was regarded as a potential source of trouble for the authorities and police in view of the rampant use of money and muscle power during past elections. One of the rowdy elements associated with the elections here is currently in jail on a murder charge.

Following reports that pressure was building on some candidates to withdraw from the fray, college authorities convened a meeting and decided that cancelling the election was the only way out if violence was to be avoided. Surprisingly, candidates are yet to register their protest over the decision while the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has welcomed it.

Elections in the rest of the South Gujarat University-affiliated colleges will be held on November 28. Chandrakant Parmar was elected general secretary of V T Choksi Law College on Thursday, while Vipul Jariwala, an office-bearer of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad8217;s Surat unit, was elected as one of the 29 class representatives. No candidature was filed for 11 seats and the posts will be filled by selection on merit. Thirteen candidates are in fray for the remaining 10 seats.

Four class representatives in the Wadia Women8217;s Arts and Commerce College have no opponents while for the rest of the 29 seats, there are 54 candidates. In Rander8217;s Navyug Commerce College, nine candidates are contesting unopposed while election will be held for the rest of 18 seats. In Navyug Arts, election will be held for five out of 12 seats as the rest are a one-horse race, with one candidate only competing.

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Akhananda College on Ved Road will see election only for five posts of class representatives.

In the SPB English Medium Commerce College, four candidates will be elected unopposed while election will be held for the remaining 12 seats.