TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Independents ruled the roost this time during Goa University union elections as despite winning 10 seats – an equal number was won by the BJP backed union – they succeeded in getting their members elected as president, general secretary and lady representative.
These elections are different from the ones for the students’ council and are for the union from the post graduate disciplines in Goa University.
According to the winning side, they managed to pull off this coup despite police presence in the counting halls as well as a lot of pressure being put on them. They claim that for the past 30 years there was no contest and committees were formed based on which government was ruling in the State.
“This time we made a plan and decided to hold elections. Ours was an independent group. We won ten seats and the BJP backed panel won ten seats,” Siddesh Bhagat, one of the leaders who spearheaded the elections along with Yagank Naik stated.
There was 85 % percent voting, with 65% votes were in favour of new panel formed ‘Together for University’ against the panel supported by BJP.
The newly elected panel consists of President Pooja Morajkar, General Secretary Jeffrey Viegas and Ladies representative: Katyani Ghatwal.
According to the group they would take up all issues regarding youth all over the state including transport and women’s empowerment.
