Student leaders debate role and impact of youth groups at south conclave

Student union leaders at the India Today South Conclave debated whether traditional student organisations have failed to represent the voice of young India, with speakers also discussing the rise of CJP and recent student-led protests. Dr Aloshious Xavier, state president of the Kerala Students Union, rejected the suggestion that student unions had failed. He said student organisations across ideological lines had consistently raised issues including NEET, CBSE, unemployment and paper leaks. He said protests since 2024 had received limited visibility, while the recent CJP protests gained attention because they were not aligned with a mainstream political party. Vijay Reddy Mallangi, national media lead and South India in-charge of CJP, said the platform was not born out of the failure of student unions. He said student organisations had supported CJP and found a common platform beyond political narratives. Ajay Kamath of the All India Democratic Students' Organisation highlighted concerns over public education, while ABVP national secretary Shravan B Raj described recent protests as the rise of alternate politics and defended the organisation's standing in campus elections.

Context

Student political groups have long served as training grounds for future politicians while taking up local and national academic grievances. Debates over their effectiveness often highlight the tension between mainstream political alignment and independent youth movements.