Preparations for the highly anticipated Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election have had an unintended impact on staff and students at Wilson College, which overlooks Girgaon Chowpatty. Seven spaces on the college’s ground floor, including the assembly hall, lecture, audio-visual, and common rooms, have been put to use for election duty, taking a toll on academic and extracurricular activities. Three of these spaces, as per college officials, have been utilised since February 2024. “Officials first started using them ahead of the Assembly election and have continued to utilise them nearly two years on,” stated Dr Jamson Masih, principal-in-charge. The other four spaces have been used for poll duty since mid-December.

Election officials set up tables in front of the entrance to the college