Kathmandu, March 19:

Students of the Pulchowk Engineering Campus, Institute of Engineering (IOE) cast their votes for the FSU election by using a computer software. This is the first time that electronic voting was used in any FSU election in the country. It is because of the electronic voting that the students got to know the results of the election within two hours after the last ballot was cast at 4 pm.

While the students in other colleges were still casting votes, students in the Pulchowk were preparing for the victory rally. “We had to wait for two hours to declare the results due to security reasons, as the students in the nearby Patan Multiple Campus were still casting votes till 6 pm,” said Durga Prasad Sangraula, campus chief, adding that the results were on computer screen within minutes.

The voting at Pulchowk Campus began at 10 am while the other colleges were open for voting as early as 7 in the morning.

Anup Kharel of ANNISU-R said they wanted to use the technology as it was more efficient. Kharel said two technicians each had been mobilised by each student union in order to ensure that polls were not rigged.

The college had provided the voters’ list in the computers. Twelve computers were used to cast the votes.

The students used a software developed by Midas Technology Pvt Ltd instead of the one developed by the engineering students themselves. “It’s because the government didn’t encourage us to use the one we had developed,” reasoned newly elected president Prakash Sapkota, adding, “It doesn’t mean that we are incapable. Government has kept the software developed by our students in the museum.”

Sapkota of ANNFSU won the election by securing 631 votes out of the 1,665 votes cast today. The panel of Nepal Students’ Union was elected in the previous FSU election held three years ago. This year, Sarika Mishra became the only NSU member to be elected in the FSU.

Commenting on the use of new technology, campus chief Sangraula said TU should adopt this technology to ensure fair polls. He, however, said the colleges should have sufficient manpower and resources to handle the technology. “At least major colleges in the Valley can adopt this technology in the next election,” he said.