Trinamool Faction Urges Immediate Students’ Union Polls in West Bengal Colleges

A Trinamool Congress group led by West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee has called on the state government to immediately conduct students’ union elections across all colleges and universities in the state. Speaking at the foundation day event of his faction’s students’ wing, Mr. Banerjee asked the administration to issue an unambiguous declaration regarding its plans for campus voting and voiced objections to political appointments across college governing panels.

What Happened

Addressing the foundation day gathering of his group’s student wing on Friday, August 28, Ritabrata Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration of failing to take steps toward holding campus polls. He maintained that continuing to stall these elections would hamper the broader student movement. Beyond calling for voting to resume, Mr. Banerjee proposed an upper age cap for individuals occupying student leadership positions within political organisations.

Mr. Banerjee argued that while former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had emerged from campus politics, union elections were not conducted during her tenure. He stated that the current ruling party came to power by capitalising on the shortcomings of earlier administrations and urged it to deliver on its commitments rather than repeating past governance patterns. He further criticised the appointment of ruling party lawmakers to administrative panels in higher education institutions.

Key Highlights

• Demand for College Elections: Immediate conduct of students’ union elections across all universities and colleges in West Bengal to preserve the student movement.
• Age Limit Proposal: A call to implement an upper age ceiling for individuals holding student leadership roles within the party.
• Status of Campus Polls: Students’ union voting in the state has remained stalled for the past five years, leading to sustained student demonstrations at institutions such as Jadavpur University over the last two years.
• Judicial Directives: The Calcutta High Court previously ordered the locking of union rooms in institutions lacking a recognised body or recent elections, while recommending that governing panels be kept free from partisan influence and feature distinguished academics.
• Governing Body Appointments: A state Higher Education Department notification outlined the appointment of party MPs and MLAs as presidents of governing councils in 247 government-aided colleges.
• Government Response: State Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay defended the governing body selections, stating that there was nothing irregular about the decisions and confirming that candidates holding a bachelor’s degree were appointed.

Why This Matters

Campus elections in West Bengal have been inactive for half a decade, prompting ongoing student agitations as well as legal scrutiny. A public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Calcutta High Court last year previously brought the suspension of campus elections before the judiciary. While the state administration has expressed willingness to facilitate elections, it has pointed to a lack of initiative from individual colleges and universities as an obstacle.

The governance of state-aided institutions has also drawn attention following recent appointments. The state Higher Education Department named political figures to head 247 college governing bodies. Among those designated are Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee at East Kolkata Girls College, Minister of State for Fire Services Kaushik Chowdhury at Raiganj B.Ed College, Union Minister of State and Balurghat MP Sukanta Majumdar at Balurghat College, and West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose at Coochbehar College.

What to Watch Next

The state government has been asked to issue an explicit clarification regarding whether it intends to organise students’ union elections across state-run and state-aided institutions. Observers will also be monitoring institutional compliance with earlier Calcutta High Court instructions requiring the closure of unrecognised union offices and the inclusion of eminent academics on college managing panels.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are students’ union elections being demanded in West Bengal?

Ritabrata Banerjee stated that students’ union elections are vital to ensure that student movements are not hampered. Elections across colleges and universities in the state have remained suspended for five years.

What did the Calcutta High Court previously direct regarding college unions?

The Calcutta High Court instructed authorities to lock union rooms in institutions where elections had not occurred recently or where no recognised student body existed. The court also observed that college governing bodies should remain insulated from political influence and instead include distinguished academics.

How has the state government responded to concerns over governing body appointments?

State Higher Education Minister Jagannath Chattopadhyay maintained that appointing party representatives to 247 college governing bodies was not unusual, noting that individuals holding at least a bachelor’s degree were designated as presidents.

Source: Based on reporting by The Hindu.