What was supposed to be a press conference to announce the final rules and give a brief introduction of the candidates turned into a confusion-filled discourse over whether the disqualification was right or wrong.
Chanchal Kumar, a student of PhD in Computer Science, was a councillor in the last union that was dissolved last week to pave way for fresh election.
Kumar, who was ABVP's vice presidential candidate, was informed this morning that his candidature stood cancelled as he had failed to formally put in his resignation as a councillor.
The ABVP camp was left aghast by the move and people on the campus appeared divided over the step.
The controversy stemmed from what appeared to be confusion over whether the clause requiring resignation from a standing candidate stands valid in the present day circumstances when the election is being held largely under the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations albeit with several relaxations for JNU.
"The contention is that under the Supreme Court order, the elections are not being held entirely under the JNUSU constitution but under the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations with four relaxations for JNU.
"No clause under these regulations requires a standing candidate from resigning formally when the last union has already been dissolved," said Sandeep Kumar of ABVP's JNU unit.
The ABVP members took up the issue with the Election Commission which went into a prolonged process of deliberation over the issue.
While the press conference that was scheduled for 4 pm, was cancelled, there was no indication till late evening as to what decision the commission is taking.
Chief Election Commissioner Chandan stepped out of the JNUSU office for a brief period in the evening and was bombarded by questions by the waiting ABVP activists.
"We have already submitted a complaint to the Grievance Redressal Committee and we will even go to court if required, as this step will constitute a violation of SC orders," said Sourav Kumar of ABVP.
CEC Chandan, meanwhile, said the commission members were discussing the issue and will communicate the decision to everybody soon.
The students and activists meanwhile appeared divided over the issue, with some saying the disqualification was not right and some taking the other side.
"The disqualification should not have happened, according to what I believe," said NSUI's JNU unit vice president Manish Arya.
Others said in the JNU constitution, there was earlier a clause that required a person recontesting election to resign but whether it would be applicable in this case, after Lyngdoh recommendation came into force, was a tricky question and was up to the election commission to decide.
