Expenses in elections to students' body is higher than that in MLA and MP elections, said NES president Bengia Tolum
A CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: The Nyishi Elite Society (NES) has announced that aspiring candidates using money power for getting elected to the executive posts of ANSU (All Nyishi Students' Union) will be "socially boycotted".
The NES made the announcement during a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club, here on Saturday. It also announced several other resolutions to bring electoral reforms in the ANSU elections.
Stating that "the expenses during ANSU elections run higher than that in MLA and MP elections", NES president Bengia Tolum added, "The NES won't leave the matter with only advisory this time as somebody has to bell the cat."
Tolum also informed that besides the candidates, those who will sponsor such candidates will also be boycotted socially, and they will not be invited to any social events or will attend social events hosted by such individuals.
The NES president informed that the resolution in this regard has been taken following the 'Dr Begi Committee Report on ANSU Electoral Reformation' which has been accepted by the NES, adding that the same has already been officially communicated to the ANSU on January 15 by the NES. Regarding implementation of the resolution in both letter and spirit, Tolum informed that they have already set up block and district-level committees to put a check on such activities. Based on their reports "strict actions will be taken", he added.
Commenting on the practice of the students' unions collecting illegal donations from the business community and government departments, the NES president said that involvement of huge money during elections is the root cause of such practices. He hoped that if expenditures by candidates can be checked then the donation-collection activities will also stop.
Meanwhile, Tolum also announced several other reforms which include fixing the upper age-limit of 33 years for ANSU executives, checking past credentials and experiences of candidates in reputed student organizations especially for the posts of president and general secretary, and whether candidates have any political affiliation, among other measures. Statting that many aspiring candidates take admissions in educational institutions solely to contest elections, Tolum informed that from this time onwards every ANSU candidate will have to be a regular student pursuing a course continuously without any break in academic year.
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