 |
Itanagar, April 5:
Tadar Baro has been elected as the Convenor of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union for the 2026–2029 term, defeating Charanso Halai by a margin of 385 votes in a closely watched and controversy-marked election.
Out of a total 2,061 votes cast, Baro secured 1,196 votes, while Halai received 811 votes. A total of 54 votes were declared invalid.
The election had earlier been mired in controversy after Baro filed a First Information Report (FIR) at the Itanagar Police Station, alleging that Halai violated AAPSU bylaws due to active political affiliation. Baro claimed that Halai was associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party as a polling booth president in Tezu, which, if proven, would render him ineligible under student union norms. He had also urged both the AAPSU Election Commission and BJP leadership to look into the matter.
Significantly, both Baro and Halai had initially been disqualified during the nomination and scrutiny process by the AAPSU Chief Election Committee. Halai’s candidature was rejected over alleged violations of Article 9(a)(iv) and Article 20(3)(b) of the AAPSU Constitution, while Baro was disqualified for non-compliance with Article 25(b).
The twin disqualifications had triggered strong reactions among supporters, as both were seen as key contenders. The Election Committee maintained that its decisions were in line with constitutional provisions to ensure a fair and transparent process.
Despite the earlier setbacks and heightened tensions within the student community, both candidates ultimately contested the election, culminating in Baro’s decisive victory. The result marks the beginning of a new leadership phase for AAPSU, following one of its most contentious electoral processes in recent years.
