THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA
Political drama has unfolded over the Student Council elections at Shree Mallikarjun and Chetan Manju Desai College, Canacona, with questions emerging over the political affiliations of the newly elected panel.
The NSUI and Jana-Sena had initially claimed that 11 students from their panel won the elections on Monday. Following the results, the elected candidates, along with NSUI and Jana-Sena leaders, visited the Shri Mallikarjun Temple and later garlanded the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The candidates also thanked DPM Chairman Chetan Desai, Jana-Sena chief Janardhan Bhandari, NSUI and the Youth Congress for their support and guidance. They pledged to address students’ concerns and work towards their academic and extracurricular development.
Panel claims independence
The first twist came when newly elected General Secretary Gaurvi S Phaldessai and two Class Representatives said their panel was independent and had no affiliation with any political party.
In a video, Phaldessai accused NSUI of giving the impression that the panel was backed by the organisation. She said a photograph of the elected candidates with NSUI members had been circulated without their knowledge.
“Our full panel is independent,” Phaldessai said, adding that the candidates had contested without the backing of NSUI or any other political party and would work with the college management.
NSUI rejects claim
The second twist came after Phaldessai and the two Class Representatives visited the office of Tribal Welfare Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, who presented a bouquet to congratulate the newly elected panel.
On Tuesday, NSUI State General Secretary Kumar Arjun Gauli, accompanied by eight Student Council members, alleged that the BJP and its student wing BJYM had influenced the three students to distance themselves from NSUI.
Gauli questioned why Phaldessai had not objected when photographs were taken with NSUI leaders following the elections.
He claimed that discussions had taken place before the elections and that it was decided NSUI would back the students. According to Gauli, no serious candidate was fielded against Phaldessai, allowing her to be elected unopposed.
FYBA Class Representative Melba A Fernandes also claimed Phaldessai had been part of the NSUI-backed panel and had agreed to work with the organisation.
Fernandes said Phaldessai had been present with the group on election day and during the post-election photographs with NSUI leaders, but later declared the panel independent and met BJYM and BJP leaders.
The news conference was attended by newly elected council members Yash Sawant, Rahul Gaonkar, Swajal Vernekar, Mrunal Dessai, Raj Bhagat, Nathan Fernandes, Melba Anaida Fernandes and Pranisha Pagi, along with other NSUI leaders.
