Former LUTA president Dr D P Tiwari said the meeting was “unconstitutional”. Tiwari was removed from his post when the teachers passed a no-confidence motion against him. “As the tenure of all the office bearers ended in last November, LUTA president Awadesh Kumar has no right to convene such a meeting on behalf of LUTA,” said Tiwari.

In reply, Awadesh blamed Tiwari for not convening a meeting for electing the returning officer for the polls. “Till November, it was Tiwari who was holding the president post. Had he been serious about the polls, he must have convened such a meeting.”

LUTA members passed the no-confidence motion against Tiwari as he did not extend his support to the teachers suspended by former V-C Prof Ram Prakash Singh.