Student wings unite in Karnataka, push for revival of campus elections

In a rare show of unity cutting across political lines, student organisations in Karnataka have jointly demanded the immediate revival of student union elections in colleges from the current academic year.

The consensus emerged at a meeting convened by Medical Education Minister Sharana Prakash R Patil and Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar, where representatives from student wings of major parties and Left-affiliated groups participated.

Student elections in the state have remained suspended since 1989, when the government led by Veerendra Patil imposed a ban following incidents of campus violence and rising political interference.

With Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announcing in the 2026–27 Budget that elections would be restored, student groups urged the government to act swiftly and conduct polls without delay.

The ministers assured participants that the proposed elections would largely follow the recommendations of the J M Lyngdoh Committee, which laid down guidelines for fair and transparent student body elections across India.

During the discussions, Left-leaning student bodies sought reserved representation for women in elected unions. Representatives of the JD(S) student wing called for 70 per cent reservation for Kannada-speaking students. Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad proposed eligibility norms such as a minimum 60 per cent attendance and no pending criminal cases for candidates.

These suggestions were opposed by the National Students' Union of India and JD(S) representatives, who argued that such criteria could unfairly exclude students, particularly those involved in protests.

Students also stressed that elected bodies must have meaningful roles beyond organising cultural events, calling for participation in key university decision-making processes.

The ministers said they would recommend to the government that guidelines be framed at the earliest to facilitate the conduct of elections. Faculty bodies and college management representatives have also extended support, urging that polls be conducted in a free and fair manner.

The move signals a renewed push towards restoring campus-level democratic participation in Karnataka after more than three decades.