Students of the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) have elected a new student union on Wednesday, with key positions filled by representatives from diverse student organisations. However, the election process has sparked criticism due to procedural irregularities initiated by the administration, sidelining traditional democratic practices. Porika Vikas of the Democratic Students Front (DSF) was elected president, while Aardra A.
from the Left Front secured the vice-president position. The general secretary post went to Deena Elsa George, also from the Left Front. Other elected representatives include Noora Maisoon (joint secretary, Students for Social Justice), Nella Soumya (cultural secretary, DSF), and Arbaz Aman (sports secretary, United Students’ Front).
This year’s elections departed from established norms, as the administration skipped crucial steps such as dissolving the outgoing student union through a General Body Meeting. The student-run Election Commission of EFLU’s democratic process, was also bypassed. Instead, the administration announced a faculty-run Election Commission and notified the election process at the last minute.
“The notification for both the faculty-run Election Commission and the elections at the eleventh hour was a denial of the student body’s rights. The student union elections are supposed to be a democratic, student-run process with very little interference from the administration. We will ensure that it stays this way f.