Chandigarh, Sept. 4 -- It was an eerie sense of deja vu for the National Students Union of India (NSUI), which once again found its rebel spoiling its chances. Its candidate Parabjot Singh Gill, an outsider who joined the party at the last minute, finished third in the presidential race, securing 1,359 votes. On the other hand, the NSUI rebel, Sumit Sharma, who floated the Student Front after being denied the president's ticket, secured 2,660 votes with the backing of Himachal Students Union (HIMSU) and rebels from other parties.

Gill and Sharma's combined vote count surpassed that of the winner Gauravveer Sohal (3,148 votes), clearly indicating that the failure to plug factionalism and rebellion did the party in. As per party insiders, ...