WB: Without Official Nod, Calcutta Medical College Students Hold Union Polls

The Calcutta Medical College students showed indomitable determination as a section of students organised the student body polls themselves on the scheduled day – amid questions about the validity of the election. About 79% of voters cast their votes in this election held on Thursday even though it was not approved by the Health Department.

Every time the students have raised the demand for the election of the student council, the state government has postponed it citing various complications. The students then started a movement to demand the election; they were also sitting on hunger strikes. But the government did not budge. Finally, the students resolved to hold symbolic elections. By organising it successfully, the students showed that they were determined to form the student council.

Votes were received for a total of 20 posts – five in each of the four years. Thirty-one candidates contested for the 20 seats. Two candidates got the same number of votes and as a result, a total of 21 people have been elected.

Jadavpur University professors Ambikesh Mohapatra and Dr Binayak Sen and social workers Sujat Bhadra and Bolan Gangopadhyay assumed the role of election observers. Counting of the votes started after 4 pm on Thursday. In the evening, the results of the election were announced by Bhadra and Mohapatra. On behalf of the students, Aniket Kar said that if the college authorities want, all the documents of this election would be handed over to them.

According to the students of the medical college, a new chapter has started with this election.

At the end of the counting of votes, Mohapatra said, “Elections should be held everywhere. It was closed due to the pandemic. Voting can now be done.''

Sujat Bhadra said, "We kept all the documents, cancelled ballots, and sample ballots. After the counting, we handed them over to the students. They will decide which way the movement will go."

Medical college students have been protesting for the student union elections for over six months. They sat on a hunger strike for an indefinite period from December 8. They fasted for 12 days. In solidarity with the protesting students, students from medical circles, other colleges, and universities stood alongside them.

Film director Aparna Sen also supported the movement. She said, "The way the ruling party stopped the medical college elections was completely undemocratic! I stand in solidarity with the protesting students and strongly condemn the fascist activities of the TMC."

Last Monday, the medical students had organised a mass convention. They announced that the hunger strike would be lifted and that elections would be held on December 22 – the previously scheduled date. Their announcement was supported by prominent personalities.