The student senate and students’ welfare board elections of the Gujarat University were held after a gap of four years, on Sunday. The counting for the elections, which witnessed nearly 75 percent and 73.31 percent voting respectively, is being held today.

For the first time, the counting will take place at Bhasha Bhavan instead of Senate Hall. GU has declared a holiday Monday to prevent any untoward incident.

“Both major factions tried their best to bring the voters to the polling booths. At Rashtrabhasha Hindi College, a skirmish had taken place over the absence of identity cards. . Police intervened and prevented a scuffle. Both the factions claimed victory after voting was over. At a few few places, the factions called truce fearing cancellation of the polling process,” said an official associated with the elections.

A total of five student organizations – Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Vidyarthi Sena fielded their candidates.

It will be a tough fight for the senate seat from the Faculty of Law where four organizations – NSUI, ABVP, Vidyarthi Sena and SFI – fielded their candidates. The lone NCP candidate contested for undergraduate Commerce seat.

The elections were held after a gap of four years as several petitions were filed challenging the process.