Student politics banned on Karnataka campuses for 37 years

On a weekday afternoon at a government college in central Karnataka state, the student bulletin board is filled with announcements about exams, scholarships and cultural events. What’s missing, however, are the printed campaign posters, handwritten calls to vote or calls for debate that once defined campus life in the state. The corridors of colleges in Karnataka have been quiet for almost four decades and no longer echo with the passionate voices of the student community protesting or rallying for various reasons. Colleges and universities in Karnataka still ban student union elections, which some believe has led to a stifling of campus politics compared to decades ago.Bans and the ‘talent crunch’This long silence may now be coming to an end – after nearly 37 years, the Congress government in Karnataka has announced plans to resume student union elections in colleges and universities across the state, reopening a chapter that was abruptly closed in 1989. Faced with concerns about violence, politicization and academic chaos, the Congress government led by Chief Minister Veerendra Patil ended campus politics. When CM Patil announced the ban, it was meant to be a temporary measure, but it continues. Soon, nominating or advisory student unions replaced “politically” elected unions. While students can still raise issues related to fees, accommodation and exam delays, formal representation has waned over time.But the ban and its consequences have sparked a debate about democracy, discipline and the role of educational institutions in shaping future political leadership. They have also been focusing on the state’s once-vibrant student movement, its decline and the political considerations surrounding a possible revival.The current Congress government surprised many by announcing the resumption of campus politics at the behest of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. “We need to tap young political talent. Campus elections are possible,” Deputy Minister DK Shivakumar said.EVM for campus pollsFor many in Karnataka, the government’s attempts to revive campus politics have stirred memories of campuses once being vibrant spaces for democratic practice. In 1982, students of MES College, Bengaluru, lined up to cast their votes in the student union elections, which later became electoral legend in the state – electronic voting machines, then a novelty, were pilot tested in college elections. A year later, the EVM was introduced in the parliamentary elections.Back then, universities were more than just places for lectures and exams. Institutions such as the University of Mysore, Karnataka University in Dharwad and Bangalore University are known for their heated debates on land reforms, language identity, social justice and reservation policies. The Students’ Union acts as a representative body elected through regular opinion polls and negotiates with the government on accommodation, scholarships, transport facilities and examination reforms.“Campus elections are the first lesson of our democracy,” said Saleem Ahmed, MLC and government chief whip in the Legislative Council, a former student leader who later entered mainstream politics. “We learned how to campaign without money, how to talk to people and how to accept defeat.”1970s and 1980sStudent politics in Karnataka in the 1960s and 1970s often reflected broader social movements. While political parties maintained informal links with student groups, independent groups focused on academic and welfare issues also emerged on campus. For students from marginalized communities, unions provide an institutional platform to voice concerns that may otherwise be ignored.However, by the late 1970s and early 1980s, the nature of campus politics began to change. Student organizations affiliated with mainstream political parties became stronger, and elections increasingly reflected state-level competition. Allegations of money power, outside interference and non-student involvement became common. Ideological and caste divisions intensified, sometimes erupting into violence.promotionFor some of the biggest names in contemporary politics, campus is a launchpad. Long before DK Shivakumar became Deputy Minister and Chairman of the Karnataka Congress Committee, his political education began not in party offices or election war rooms but in the corridors of colleges. In the early 1980s, Shivakumar became a prominent student leader under the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College, when the campus was a lively scene of debate, mobilization and electoral competition. He has repeatedly said the experience taught him his first lessons in leadership, organizing and public engagement.Just a few kilometers away, a decade ago, BK Hariprasad, now former AICC general secretary and MLC, started his political journey as a student activist in 1972 at MES College, Bengaluru. Hariprasad rose through the ranks in student and youth organizations and later served as vice-president of the All India Youth Congress, general secretary of the AICC and four-time member of the Lok Sabha. His work among backward classes and grassroots networks earned him recognition from senior Congress leaders, including Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi.Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, an eight-time MLA, also emerged from student activities as the student union secretary of Government Science College, Bengaluru. He is also a member of Bangalore University Students Union. In 1977, he became the president of the school’s student union.Their trajectory – from student politics to the highest echelons of political parties and government – is now at the center of a new wave of policy debates in Karnataka. “I myself grew up through campus politics. Being a student leader helped me in my political career,” Shivakumar said. “Student elections are crucial to developing young political talent.”Feasibility and other issuesTo review the framework, feasibility and impact of reintroducing campus polls, the government has constituted an 11-member high-level committee. Medical Education Minister Sharanprakash Patil has been appointed as the convener. The panel included Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar, MLAs Rizwan Arshad and B Shivanna, MLCs Saleem Ahmed, Basanagouda Badarli and Puttanna, Karnataka Youth Congress president HS Manjunath and NSUI president Keerthi Ganesh.Shivakumar said in a letter on December 27 that the committee has been asked to submit its report within 15 days. Issues before it include whether student elections should be held under party banners or in a non-political format, and whether reservation should be extended to women, OBCs, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and disabled students.Retired academic Bandu Upadhya, who served as university president during several tumultuous years on campus politics, remembers the atmosphere well. “The candidates are openly sponsored by political parties. There are serious differences among students, with frequent arguments and sometimes conflicts. Anti-social elements have also entered the campus,” he said.In the past, academic calendars have often been disrupted, police presence during campus elections has become the norm and administrators have struggled to maintain order. In 1989, under the Congress government led by then CM Veerendra Patil, student union elections were banned in Karnataka.Arguments for and against bansWhat was initially described as a temporary measure later became an entrenched policy. Elected student bodies were disbanded and replaced by nominating committees or advisory committees. Over time, student participation in institutional governance became largely symbolic. Generations of students enter college without voting for a class representative, let alone a union president.Supporters of the ban argue that it brings stability. “After the ban, disruptions decreased and academic schedules became predictable,” said a former university administrator.Critics counter that silence comes at a price. “The ban on student elections reflects a lack of trust in our youth,” said Ravindra Reshme, a political commentator and former president of the Federation of Karnataka University and College Teachers’ Associations. “It deprives students of practical democratic training.”Despite the ban, political participation has not disappeared from campuses. Students continue to organize protests around issues such as fee hikes, exam delays, hostel facilities and booking policies. Political parties maintain informal networks among students, especially during state and national elections. But these activities lack the structure, accountability and continuity of an elected union.In some private and autonomous institutions, limited forms of student unions are allowed, restricted mainly to cultural activities and remaining formally apolitical.Student organizations remain divided on the issue. “Campus elections are the first exposure to democracy for many students,” said Adarsh ​​M, office director, NSUI, Bengaluru University. “Elections help identify leaders early and train them in accountability, debate and organization.”AISF activist Srinath Rao said elected unions provide a legitimate platform to students from marginalized backgrounds. “Without elections, representation becomes symbolic and dominated by nominations,” he said.Mohammad Sajid, a member of Campus Front, believes that the purpose of student polls is to transcend participation in party politics. “Even non-partisan students benefit when governments are forced to listen to their elected representatives,” he said.The ABVP expressed some reservations. ABVP official Mahendra K pointed out that “the campus exists primarily for academics”. “We have seen that past elections have often resulted in riots, violence and external interference. Resuming elections without rigorous safeguards would harm students’ academic interests.”SFI leader Bharath Krishna expressed concerns about the political fallout. “Campus elections risk becoming an extension of the ruling party’s politics,” he warned, calling for strict enforcement of spending limits and protection against outside interference.Political observers said the Congress government’s move was also motivated by organizational considerations. “Unlike the Bharatiya Janata Party, which uses the RSS as a channel, the Congress lacks an institutional channel to build a grassroots leadership,” said political strategist Vishwas Shetty. “Campus elections provide one such avenue.”Political analyst MN Patil points out the bright side of campus politics. “Student leaders learn how to organize, strategize and question authority. Without them, democracy becomes transactional,” he said.Opposition parties reacted cautiously. BJP leaders warned against politicization of educational institutions. “Universities should focus on academics,” said Aravind Berard, a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and deputy opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly. “If elections are resumed, there must be strict safeguards.” The JD(S), meanwhile, has taken a more nuanced stance. “The student movement shapes the leaders of each party, but campuses should not become battlegrounds,” a party official said in an interview.