Shillong, Feb 22:  The 14th general election of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) for constituting a new central executive council was held on Saturday with a turnout of 97.7 per cent.

The term of the newly elected office bearers of the central executive council is three years from 2020 to 2023.

KSU president, Lambokstarwell Marngar and general secretary, Donald V Thabah retained their respective post without any contest and former organising secretary, Biangbor L. Paliar was also elected as vice president uncontested.

Assistant general secretary, Readyon Stone Nongrum polled 2000 votes, organising secretary, Ostarnic Marbaniang got 2418 votes, education secretary, Raymond Kharjana (2020 votes), publicity secretary, Pynshaiborlang Rani (1744 votes) and office secretary, Spaindarsing Lyngkhoi (1769 votes).

The election was conducted by the election committee under the chairmanship of former KSU leader, Danny Khyriem, and NESO chairman, Samuel B. Jyrwa as secretary.

Altogether 450 units of the KSU which comprised of ten electors from each unit, participated in the general election of the students’ body conducted by an independent election committee from 9am to 3pm.

As counting of votes took time, the results of the election to various posts were declared late in the evening.

A total of 4,400 out of 4500 eligible electors cast their votes which accounted for 97.7 per cent.

Online voting was also held for the first time, where KSU members of Delhi unit and Dehradun unit cast their votes online.

A total of 27 candidates were in the fray for various posts including the three posts elected uncontested – president, vice-president and general-secretary.

The other posts that went for election include assistant general secretary, organising secretary, education secretary, publicity secretary and office secretary.

After the election, the KSU president, Marngar said that fighting for stringent measures to check influx of illegal immigrants and migrants from outside would continue to be the top most priority of the Union and would fight aggressively.

“The long pending inter-state boundary dispute that Meghalaya and Assam are yet to resolve and the need to improve education in the state are the Union’s priorities,” Marngar said.

Stating that the new CEC would sit in the coming days and decide on ILP issue in view of the lackadaisical attitude of the Centre, Marngar asked, if the Centre can give ILP to Manipur without examining it, why is it that the Centre has to delay for Meghalaya?

He said the outcome of the meeting between the state delegation and Union home minister Amit Shah on ILP issue was nothing but disrespecting the aspirations of the people of the state.

Marngar also said that the battle has started now to pursue this issue till it is achievedwhile conveying his message to all the newly elected leaders of the CEC and members of the Union in different units.

The KSU president also warned all elected representatives not to play with the future of the community and the state especially the aspirations of the people to get ILP which has been a demand pending for decades.

The KSU also condemned BJP legislator and minister, A L Hek who stated that not majority of the people are for ILP.

“We have a population of 33 lakhs, and to say that only 30,000 are for ILP, is a demeaning statement from the representative,” Marngar said.