The Daily PulsePolitics
Maharashtra government forms committee to bring back college student union elections
Reported by Vivek Joshi (Copy Editor) · Indian Express - Political Pulse ·
Reported by one source so far
Representative image · Wikimedia CommonsMaharashtra has taken a step to bring back student union elections on college and university campuses after more than three decades. The Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government formed a 12-member committee on Thursday to create a framework for these polls. The panel is headed by former Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Prof Suhas Pednekar and has been given one month to submit its report.
Recent Protests
The move comes after recent student protests across the state. In July, thousands took to the streets over the NEET paper leak. In September, the death of 20-year-old IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode led to days of protests on campus over grievance and disciplinary systems. Student union elections were originally banned in Maharashtra after violent incidents in the early 1990s, including the killing of student leader Owen D'Souza outside a Mumbai college in October 1989. The state then passed the Maharashtra Universities Act in 1994 to ban direct student polls over law and order concerns.
Past Attempts
A previous attempt to revive the polls was made in 2016 when the BJP-Shiv Sena government passed the Maharashtra Public Universities Act to reverse the ban. Rules were framed in 2018 and elections were planned for 2019. However, the Fadnavis Cabinet put the polls on hold in August 2019 due to law and order concerns and the upcoming Assembly elections, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic and political changes.
Committee Mandate
The new Pednekar committee will look at safeguards against political interference and commercialisation, fund management, training for elected representatives, and digital systems for nominations and grievances. It will also consider representation for women, reserved categories, NSS, NCC, sports, and cultural participants. Dr Prasad Karande, Mumbai University Registrar, serves as the member-secretary of the panel. Reactions from political student wings have been mixed. Advocate Amol Matele from the NCP (SP) welcomed the move but noted it is too late for the current academic year, suggesting elections could happen by July 2027. Pradeep Sawant from Yuva Sena questioned if the committee is an eyewash. Santosh Gangurde from the MNS student wing questioned how the process can be kept free of political influence when political outfits are already involved in campus issues.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
Maharashtra has set up a 12-member committee to plan the return of student union elections in colleges and universities after a ban of over thirty years.
Why It Matters
Campus elections were originally banned in the 1990s due to violence, money power, and political interference. Reviving them touches on core debates about student representation, democratic participation on campuses, and how to prevent political parties from exploiting student bodies.
What Happens Next
The committee has one month to submit its report with a framework. Student wings have raised doubts about whether the process can remain truly free of political influence, while leaders suggest actual elections might not take place until the next academic cycle in 2027.
