PANAJI: Alleging that there is a clear-cut political interference in the elections for the Students Council of the Goa University, the Students’ Cell of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday

demanded that the process for the Students’ Council election, which is slated for September 30 be stopped immediately, and inquiry ordered into the exercise of candidate validation for this election.

The president of the state BJP Students’ Cell, Mr Atmaram Barve, addressing a press conference said that the Cell would demand intervention of the vice chancellor, Prof Deelip Deobagkar in the matter, and if required, the Cell would approach the Governor, Dr S S Sidhu, in the capacity of the University Chancellor.

Speaking further, Mr Barve said that the election exercise at the University has been partial to the candidates of the state BJP Students’ Cell right from the day these elections were announced. "First the dates for filing of nominations clashed with the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, then the list of 30 valid candidates was declared, followed by withdrawal of the list on two occasions, and adding three more names to it," he informed, pointing out that finally, the nomination form of the state BJP Students’ Cell candidate for the post of Council chairman was rejected without giving any reason.

"This election is a litmus test for our Cell since the University had declared our victory at the Students’ Council election, in 2008-09, as null and void, and then refrained from holding the election for two consecutive years," Mr Barve stated. He also condemned the act of the opposition faction, of threatening the supporters of the state BJP Students’ Cell.

Mr Barve further expressed surprise that the University had rejected the nomination of the state BJP Students’ Cell, filed before the University sports faculty, naming a gold medal winner for an honour.