Bengaluru: Moved by the recent wave of Gen Z-led protests across the country, the govt is set to revive student body elections after 37 years. The cabinet is expected to take a final call at its next meeting, with colleges likely to hold elections as early as this academic year if the proposal is cleared.The Congress govt headed by Veerendra Patil banned student elections in 1989 following a series of violent campus clashes and concerns over the growing influence of political parties in student politics.The proposal to revive polls has reached its final stage after a high-level committee headed by medical education minister Sharanprakash Patil completed its exercise and submitted its report.Congress believes the absence of campus elections has weakened student leadership and reduced youth participation in public movements. Unlike Delhi, where recent student protests drew large participation recently over alleged NEET-UG paper leak, Karnataka has witnessed only muted student mobilisation.“What we witnessed at Jantar Mantar cannot be replicated in Bengaluru or elsewhere because students do not have a proper platform. Reintroducing campus politics will provide that much-needed boost,” Patil told TOI.But while Congress sees the revival as an opportunity to reconnect with young voters ahead of the 2028 assembly polls, BJP has questioned the timing, alleging it is aimed at strengthening Congress’ students wing, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).N Ravi Kumar, BJP MLC and former Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad functionary, said the party supported the move but questioned Congress’ objective. “What we are seeing is an attempt by Congress to strengthen its student wing which has weakened in Karnataka,” Kumar said. “Students certainly need a political platform. But student organisations must also take up public issues. Had they actively raised concerns over issues like the KPSC recruitment scams, more student leaders would have emerged.”Saleem Ahmed, Congress MLC and former NSUI national office-bearer, said student elections would help groom future politicians. “Seeking votes from classroom to classroom and college to college demands leadership qualities. If it cannot be done this academic year, it should certainly happen next year,” Ahmed said.Patil said that although the academic year has already begun, there was enough time to conduct elections this academic year.
