Imphal, April 20 2009: Citing gross irregularity and several anomalies in the issuance/non-issuance of identity cards as well as in the overall election process of Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU), the proscribed KYKL and UNLF have called for an immediate halt to the election process and also to cancel the election scheduled for April 24 .

In a joint statement issued by KYKL's publicity and research secretary Langamba Mangang and deputy publicity organisation of UNLF N Ibochou, the two outfits said that the irregularities were discovered during an investigation by JTF (HR) following a complaint in this regard.

Quoting findings of the investigation, it said that a notification issued by the Dean of Students in the name of Deputy Registrar Y Rashini on March 3 permitted renewal of identity cards (which are renewed for every semester) only till March 9 .

Even as many students including those who got admitted after March 9, approached Dean of Students Prof Islamuddin for renewal of their identity cards, Islamuddin refused to renew I-cards saying that it would be done after the MUSU election.

On the other hand, departing from the rules followed earlier, it was made mandatory for the candidates as well as their proposers and seconders to enclose original certificates of class XII in place of provisional certificate while filing nomination papers.

Further, the election notification was issued in the afternoon of March 15 giving only two days' time, excluding April 16 which was the polling day for Outer parliamentary seat, to submit nomination papers.

As such there were severe time constraints to procure the original certificate made mandatory for filing nomination papers, observed the Joint Coordination Committee of KYKL and UNLF.

Observing that each and every student of MU has the right to possess their identity cards, the two outfits observed that identity cards have become indispensable due to the prevailing insecure situation and also because of its need while travelling and staying in hotels etc.

Under such circumstances, it was a grave wrong on the part of Prof Islamuddin not to issue identity cards starting from 36 days before election notification was issued.

Observing that all MU students have the right to vote in MUSU polls, the two outfits accused Prof Islamuddin of abusing his position of being Dean of Students in favour of a group of students.

Even as the earlier rule that demands only provisional certificate should be changed, due to notification should be issued in advance, it asserted while questioning the practical possibility of obtaining original certificates at such short notice for those students who have not yet obtained original certificates.

It was almost impossible to file nomination with the mandatory documents within such short period, it noted.

Asserting that the new arrangement of the election committee was a conspiracy to elect a group of students to MUSU office, the two outfits said that all students should be given identity cards on or before April 21 .

Asking to suspend the MUSU election slated for April 24, it demanded that a new election notification should be issued within April 24 after rectifying all the flaws and anomalies. In case the demand is not put into action, relevant MU authority including VC, Registrar, Dean of Students and Election Committee will be penalised.

Accusing RO A Koireng of being a party to the conspiracy knowingly who replaced the RO resigned earlier, the outfits asked Koireng to step down from being RO.

The two outfits further declared that the new MUSU president and all councillors elected through faulty election process will be penalised.

Asserting that a clique of MU authority, some teachers and students have been scheming to turn Manipur University into a den of their corrupt activities, KYKL-UNLF said that an intensive campaign will be launched to uproot the clique from the university.

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