Rain played spoilsport in Delhi University student polls on Friday as a large number of voters preferred to stay at home leading to a dismal turnout of slightly over 30 per cent.
Fate of 41 candidates lay sealed as morning colleges where voting ended at 12.30 PM recorded a vote of 29 to 30 per cent while evening colleges registered a slightly better turnout of 34 to 36 per cent, officials said.
As the voting opened at 8.30 AM, only die-hard supporters could be seen at the polling stations braving the heavy rain.
However, voting picked up slightly as the day progressed and rains relented. The election in the campus has been billed as a decisive mandate against corruption by groups like BJP’s student wing Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the All India Students Association (AISA).However, Congress’ student group NSUI has been at pains to make campus issues an agenda, highlighting what they call the “non-performance” of the past ABVP led unions.
Election observers said the poll had been largely peaceful with no major complaints being received throughout the day.
“No serious complaints were received, neither from the police nor from the students. The smaller allegations, meanwhile, are a matter to be checked,” said Dr Satish Kumar, one of the observers for the polls.
While Ramjas college polled a little over 1,500 votes, Hansraj saw around 1,461, Hindu college 1,330 while Sri Ram College of Commerce and Khalsa college polled around 730 and 630 votes respectively.
Earlier in the day as rain drenched the capital hampering traffic, party activists were seen exhorting students in hostels to turn up at polling centres. Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta and other state leaders like Arvind Garg and Ajay Chauhan were seen on the campus.