With less than 24 hours before voting begins, Julian Parmar has announced that he intends to drop out of the race for the Presidency of the Cambridge Union for Michaelmas 2011.

Current President Lauren Davidson said in a statement sent to Varsity: “As of 9th March 2011, Julian Parmar has notified the Returning Officers that he is no longer a candidate in the election for Union president, citing personal reasons.”

In a statement of his own, Mr Parmar said: “I have decided due to personal reasons that the Union would thrive better in the hands of someone else”. Adding that, “the Cambridge Union is a vibrant and busy society that needs good leadership and commitment from its President.”

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped me during my time at the Union – both inside and outside of the society. I have enjoyed my time there, and wish its future committees much success.”

The move leaves Calum Macdonald as the sole candidate for the position and, unless he is defeated by RON, the next President.

The Union election is the first to be held under new media guidelines that allow candidates to speak to the student press.

The election has also been marred by a number of controversies for posts across the Union, with the Returning Officers carring out a number of investigations into allegations of misconduct.

It is alleged that Calum Macdonald ‘liked’ an article on The Tab before the press ban was removed, and that he and Francesca Hill, President-elect for Easter Term, have been investigated for conspiring against Parmar.

Both candidates running for Speakers’ Officer were investigated for allegedly making false claims in their manifestos.

In all cases those involved were found ‘not guilty’ by the Returning Officers.