Fund Collection for College Union Polls Sparks Row Within KSU in Kasaragod

Kasaragod: A dispute has erupted within the KSU in Kasaragod over funds collected for college union elections. Allegations and counter-allegations surfaced in a WhatsApp group named 'KSU Kasaragod Koottayma'.

Office-bearers of various college units have alleged that district-level leaders collected large amounts of money locally, including from banks, but did not fully distribute the funds for college election activities. Unit office-bearers from several colleges have demanded that the district leaders disclose the accounts of the money collected in the name of college union elections.

Local Congress committees are also said to have contributed money in several places. Some unit members alleged that despite having to borrow money to campaign in several colleges, they did not receive the funds collected for the elections.

WhatsApp chats and voice messages related to the dispute surfaced recently. One unit office-bearer alleged that a district committee member falsely claimed to have provided around Rs 25,000 to a college, while the election campaign had actually been conducted with Rs 10,000 given by the local Congress constituency committee. The unit members alleged that money collected by district office-bearers in the name of the elections did not reach several colleges.

One unit office-bearer said that when they contacted a cooperative bank that had been contributing funds for college union elections every year, they were told that the district president had personally collected the money. However, the district president was unwilling to hand over the amount when they requested it.

Another unit president alleged that the organisation had not provided any financial assistance so far. Another office-bearer said that nearly Rs 25,000 had been spent on college union election activities and that, when they approached banks that usually contributed funds, they were told that district leaders had already collected the money.

However, district president Jawad Puthur denied the allegations at a press conference. He said an investigation would be conducted into the alleged conspiracy behind the release of the WhatsApp chats and that those responsible would be identified and disciplinary action taken against them.