Ending 30 years of SFI dominance, KSU wrests CMS college students’ union

Kottayam: Ending a near three decade dominance of SFI at the college, KSU won the students' union elections at CMS College in Kottayam. KSU won 14 out of the 15 seats to wrest the college union after results were declared on Friday. The last time they won elections at the college was in 1997-98. This time, they won all the seats except the first-year degree representative seat which went to SFI. Fahad C was elected as the chairperson, Sreelakshmi B as the vice-chairperson, Meekhal S Varghese as the general secretary and Souparnika T S as the arts club secretary. Sam Siju Mathew, the UG first-year representative, was the lone SFI candidate to win. Over the last 28 years, KSU managed to only win one or two seats in each of the students' union elections. On Thursday, as the results were about to be announced following the election procedures, violence erupted on the campus with SFI and KSU students clashing with each other. KSU alleged that the SFI members tried to disrupt the activities at the counting centre. As the violence intensified, Congress as well as CPM leaders arrived at the campus. There was a heavy contingent of police personnel led by the district police chief at the centre. As the tense situation continued, the election result declaration was postponed to Friday. The college was also given a holiday on Friday.