Karnataka Student Wings Unite, Demand Immediate Restoration of College Elections
Bengaluru: In a rare show of unity cutting across political lines, student wings of major parties in Karnataka have jointly demanded the immediate restoration of student union elections in colleges from the current academic year.
The demand comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in the 2026–27 Budget, announced the revival of student elections. Welcoming the move, representatives from student wings of Congress, BJP, JDS, and Left parties urged the government to conduct elections without delay.
The consensus emerged during a day-long meeting of student leaders held at the State Higher Education Council auditorium. The session was chaired by Medical Education Minister Dr. Sharanaprakash R. Patil and Higher Education Minister Dr. M.C. Sudhakar, who heard views from across the student political spectrum. Both ministers assured that they would recommend early framing of rules and guidelines to facilitate elections.
Leaders from Left-affiliated student organisations demanded structured representation in elected bodies, including reservation for women candidates. Meanwhile, Vidyarthi JDS representatives proposed that 70% of seats be reserved for Kannada-speaking students.
Representatives of ABVP called for strict eligibility criteria for candidates, including a minimum 60% attendance and no pending FIRs or academic backlogs. However, this proposal faced opposition from NSUI and JDS student leaders, who argued that such conditions could unfairly exclude students involved in pro-Kannada movements or activism.
Students also raised concerns about the powers of elected bodies, urging the government to ensure that student unions are not limited to organising events but are given meaningful roles, including participation in university decision-making bodies.
The ministers indicated that the new framework for student elections would largely follow the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee Report, with necessary modifications to suit current conditions. The report, based on a Supreme Court directive, provides guidelines for conducting student body elections across India.
Later, faculty members, college management representatives, and teachers’ associations also expressed support for restoring student elections, stressing the need for a fair and transparent process.
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