Oppose last-minute delay, question linking of campus elections to ZP model code of conduct
Members of ABVP during their protest at Goa University on Tuesday.
PANAJI
Student organisations Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on Tuesday protested at the Goa University campus after elections to the Executive Committee of the Goa University Students’ Council (GUSC) were postponed at the last minute.
The elections were scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, but were cancelled on the day of voting. The university cited the model code of conduct in force due to the ongoing Zilla Panchayat elections.
In an official note, Director of Students’ Welfare and Cultural Affairs Prof Anthony Arthur A Viegas said the decision followed directions from the North Goa Collector. “As directed by the Collector, North Goa, due to the model code of conduct for the Zilla Panchayat elections, the elections of the GUSC Executive Committee scheduled for today, December 16, stand postponed,” the note stated. He added that the decision had the approval of higher authorities and that a new election date would be announced soon.
The postponement drew strong reactions from both ABVP and NSUI, which are backed by the BJP and Congress respectively. Both groups termed the move arbitrary and questioned the linking of university elections with the model code of conduct.
NSUI alleged political interference by the ruling BJP. NSUI Goa in-charge Naushad Chowdhari claimed the postponement was deliberate, stating that the BJP-backed ABVP lacked sufficient support. He said NSUI and the Goa Forward Party-backed students together had the backing of over 77 of the 96 University Representative Forum members.
ABVP rejected the allegations and said it had also opposed the postponement. ABVP representatives said they participated in the protest, stressing that student democracy should not be affected under any circumstances.
