MSDTF Elections: Bhojraj Ghoorbin Re-elected for a Third Term, Defeating Minister Woochit's Brother
The outgoing president of the Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation (MSDTF), Bhojraj Ghoorbin, has been re-elected to lead the socio-cultural organization following elections held this Sunday at Sanatan Vatika in Réduit. He begins a third consecutive two-year term as president of the federation.
Bhojraj Ghoorbin received 607 votes, significantly ahead of his opponent Ashish Woochit, who also contested for the presidency with his own team.
The results also confirmed the victory of the team aligned with the outgoing president. The Hindu Rakshak Sena, currently in charge of the MSDTF, won the key executive positions:
Nuvin Mantadin was elected secretary with 582 votes,
Roshan Sookraz was appointed treasurer with 599 votes.
These elections aimed to renew the federation's executive for the next two years and took place at Sanatan Vatika, the traditional gathering place for the organization's activities.
The Hindu Rakshak Sena, leading the MSDTF since 2020, aims to continue the work undertaken in recent years. This team had already won the previous internal elections, allowing Bhojraj Ghoorbin to lead the federation for two consecutive terms.
The Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation encompasses numerous Hindu temples across the country, approximately 250 affiliated temples, including one in Rodrigues, as well as around 40 'Kalimaye'. It also oversees a network of about 90 Hindi schools aimed at teaching the language and religious values associated with the Sanatan Dharma tradition.
The internal elections of the organization are traditionally closely monitored by socio-cultural actors, as well as by political circles.
Sunday's voting was also marked by the candidacy of a politically identified opponent: Ashish Woochit, brother of the Minister of Regional Administrations and member of the Labour Party, Ranjiv Woochit.
Bhojraj Ghoorbin's positioning is often viewed as close to the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM). However, the MSDTF elections take place within the internal framework of the organization, which remains religious and socio-cultural in nature. They are supervised by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner.
