Jack de Sequeira (Born João Hugo Eduardo de Sequeira; 20 April 1915 – 19 February 1989), popularly known as Dr Jack de Sequeira; also known as Jak Siker according to local naming conventions, was an Indian politician and is widely considered in Goa to be the "Father of the Opinion Poll", which led to the former territory attaining statehood in 1987. He was Goa's first Leader of the Opposition when the Legislative Assembly was launched in 1963. He was born to Goan parents in British Burma, and shaped politics in Goa during the 1960s and 1970s in particular. United Goans Party Sequeira was the founder president of the United Goans Party. He played a pivotal role in convincing the government of India to hold an opinion poll to decide the issue of the merger of Goa into the state of Maharashtra. Early and personal life Dr. Sequeira was born in British Burma (now Myanmar) on 20 April 1915, to Mr. Erasmo de Sequeira and Mrs. Ana Julia de Sa e Sequeira. After completing schooling in Portuguese medium at the Lyceum, he studied medicine at Escola Médica de Goa. However, his father died when he was 21, forcing him to discontinue studies in order to look after the family business. At the age of 23, he married Lilia Margarida de Gouveia Pinto. They had nine children. He died on 17 October 1989, aged 74. Political career Sequeira was the leader of a group known as Goyncho Pokx, which later merged with other groups to from the United Goans Party (UGP or UG Party). Dr. Jack de Sequeira was the founder president of the United Goans Party. He represented Santa Cruz assembly constituency three times. He lost in the fourth attempt in 1979 and did not contest elections again. Role in Goa Opinion Poll Goa was annexed into India by an Indian Army operation on 19 December 1961. It was integrated into the Indian Union in 1962. Goa's first polls were held on 9 December 1963. The two main parties UGP and MGP were formed with two opposing ideologies. The MGP wanted to merge the state of Goa into the newly formed state of Maharashtra whereas UGP wanted to retain independent statehood for the former Portuguese enclaves. The United Goans Party (UGP) was formed in 1962-63 following the merger of three local parties. Dr Sequeira was its founding president. Of the 30