Jaipur: The triennial elections of Agrawal Shiksha Samiti for 2026–29 have come under scrutiny, with candidates Narsingh Gupta, Advocate, and Madan Mohan Mittal alleging irregularities in the election process. The two candidates have announced a boycott of the polling scheduled for September 27, citing concerns over the voter list, nomination procedure and transparency of the election committee.
Addressing a press conference, the candidates alleged discrepancies in the voter list. According to them, names and mobile numbers of several voters residing in Jaipur were missing, while names of members living in other states and abroad had been included. They claimed that members residing outside Jaipur were not given adequate time or a convenient online facility to verify their names in the voter list and complete the nomination process.
Questions Over Five-Day Election Schedule
The candidates also questioned the short time period provided between the election notification, filing of nominations and withdrawal of nominations. They alleged that only around five days were provided for the process.
They further raised questions over the procedure concerning the ₹31,000 nomination amount, alleging that the system for depositing the original receipt was unclear and that candidates were not provided clear acknowledgements for submission of nomination forms and fees.
They also alleged that an authorised list of candidates was not made available even after the withdrawal process until September 21 and that the final ballot-paper format was not provided to candidates.
.jpg)
Allegations Regarding Pushpendra Kumar Gupta
The candidates also raised the issue concerning ordinary member Pushpendra Kumar Gupta, alleging that he was stopped or pressured while attempting to file a nomination form for the Executive Committee.
According to the allegations, Gupta had paid ₹5,100 for the nomination form and ₹3,100 for the voter list. The candidates claimed that after he was allegedly prevented from filing the form, he approached the court seeking relief.
They further alleged that members of the current governing council subsequently put pressure on Gupta and offered inducements, following which he withdrew his case from the High Court. These claims were made by the candidates at the press conference and were not independently established in the material provided.
Demand to Release CCTV Footage
The candidates have demanded that CCTV footage from the Samiti office be made public to clarify the election process.
They specifically sought footage covering the period from 2 PM on September 16 to 3 PM on September 18. They alleged that the prescribed procedure requiring all 33 candidates to collect nomination forms from the office and personally submit them at the office was not followed.
According to the candidates, making the CCTV footage public would help establish what happened during the nomination process.
Questions Raised Over Election Committee
Questions were also raised about the composition and functioning of the election committee. The candidates alleged that the son of a member of the current governing council was included in the election committee.
They also questioned the decision to conduct elections around seven months after the completion of the institution's term and alleged that the elections were being conducted in haste. Concerns were additionally raised regarding the availability of an authorised office for the election committee and the availability of its members throughout the election process.
Concerns Regarding Members Living Outside Jaipur
Narsingh Gupta and Madan Mohan Mittal also questioned the arrangements for members living outside Jaipur. They alleged that there was no sufficiently clear and transparent mechanism for nomination, withdrawal, issuance of ballot papers and receiving ballot papers through registered post.
They said that the absence of a clearly defined process could create concerns among members regarding the transparency of the election.
Allegations Against Office-Bearers
The two candidates also levelled allegations against the current president and secretary, claiming that differences were being created among ordinary members and that newer members were not being given adequate opportunities.
They alleged that the secretary had remained in the position for around 13 years and claimed that people associated with the existing leadership were being given opportunities within the governing council.
The candidates also alleged factionalism within the organisation and raised questions over the deployment of bouncers at the office, claiming that some members faced difficulties during the nomination process.
Appeal for Boycott
The candidates said that the future and standard of the educational institutions associated with the Agrawal community are important issues for the community. They demanded clear answers to all questions raised regarding the election process.
They announced their decision to boycott the September 27 election and appealed to members of the community to boycott the polling as well.
Note: Allegations regarding irregularities, pressure, inducements, discrimination and procedural lapses above are attributed to the candidates who raised them at the press conference. The material provided does not independently establish these allegations.