Hyderabad: Maitri Das, an independent candidate supported by the Students for Social Justice (SSJ), an alliance of tribal, Dalit, Muslim and Bahujan students, has won the student union elections at the English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU). The elections, which were held on Wednesday, had a 71.5 per cent turnout. The election was contested by candidates from the Unity for Better EFLU (UBE), which is aligned to the ABVP, candidates from the SSJ, and independent candidates. About 638 of the 892 students in the university voted, and there were 35 blank ballots.
Ms Das received 360 votes and won the election. Richa Sharma from the UBE was elected general secretary with 240 votes. Akarshika V. of the SSJ was elected vice-president with 252 votes.
Independent candidate Gokul, who was also supported by the SSJ, was elected joint secretary. Independent candidate Sammy Victor was unanimously elected to the post of sports secretary, and independent candidate Dani was elected cultural secretary. The election was conducted in keeping with the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee. Not too many posters were used, and campaigning was carried out at designated spots allotted.
