Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: The newly elected students’ council of Shree Mallikarjun and Chetan Manju Desai College in Canacona has been caught in a political controversy, with the NSUI accusing Canacona MLA and Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) of orchestrating a rift within the council and allegedly pressuring its General Secretary (GS) and two other elected members.
Addressing the media in Canacona on Tuesday, NSUI State General Secretary Kumar Arjun Gauli, along with eight newly elected council members, alleged that the GS and two Class Representatives were taken by ABVP and BJYM members to the office of the Canacona BJP MLA, where they were felicitated by the minister with a flower bouquet.
The controversy erupted soon after the college students’ council election results were declared on Monday. A photograph of the elected panel with NSUI and Congress leaders had initially surfaced, following which GS Gauravi Phaldesai released a video stating that the panel was independent and had no political affiliation or patronage.
However, within hours, photographs emerged showing Phaldesai and two other elected members at the minister’s office with BJYM and ABVP members. The minister subsequently congratulated the newly elected students and assured them BJP support.
Gauli alleged that the GS and the two Class Representatives were manipulated and pressured into speaking against the NSUI. He questioned why the students had not objected when photographs were taken with Congress and NSUI leaders immediately after the election results.
According to Gauli, discussions had taken place before the election and it had been decided that NSUI would support the students’ panel. He claimed that because of the understanding over the General Secretary’s post, no serious candidate was fielded against Phaldesai, allowing her to be elected unopposed.
Reacting to allegations that NSUI had pressured the students into posing for photographs, Gauli said the BJP and its student-wing affiliates were now doing the same by taking the GS and two Class Representatives to the BJP MLA’s office.
He also questioned why the minister was congratulating the students as an independent panel if BJYM and ABVP had not been involved in the election.
Gauli said NSUI did not want to bring political activity into educational institutions and maintained that students’ sentiments and the sanctity of educational institutions should be respected.
NSUI Canacona in-charge Manish Naik Gaonkar also criticised the alleged political involvement, urging the minister not to use what he described as “money-game tactics” and political strategies on young students.
Naik Gaonkar alleged that the video issued by the GS was the result of pressure and “brainwashing” and appealed to political leaders to set a better example for students.
Cultural Secretary Yash Sawant, Sports Secretary Rahul Gaonkar, Ladies Representative Swajal Vernekar and Class Representatives Mrunal Dessai, Raj Bhagat, Nathan Fernandes, Melba Anaida Fernandes and Pranisha Pagi were among the elected council members present at Tuesday’s briefing.
Class Representative Melba Anaida Fernandes claimed that Phaldesai had been part of the panel that had agreed to work with NSUI and was present with NSUI and Congress leaders on the day of the election and after the results were announced.
The students alleged that the sudden change in position raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the GS’s subsequent meeting with BJYM and BJP leaders.
The allegations have added a political dimension to the recently concluded college students’ council election, with both sides now facing questions over the extent of political involvement in student body affairs.
