New generation, old contest: After 9 years, campus politics returns to Madhya Pradesh

After nine years without student union elections in Madhya Pradesh, political parties and student organizations are gearing up for new contests to fill the role of student representatives. ABVP, NSUI, and smaller groups are mobilizing a new generation of students who have never experienced campus politics before. The elections come at a time when examination integrity and quality of education have become prominent issues in student politics across the country.

Madhya Pradesh has a troubled history with student elections, marked by campus violence and political interference. Direct elections were discontinued in 2003 due to repeated clashes between student groups. Indirect elections continued until 2017, when no elections were held. A petition filed by student leader Adnan Ansari led to a High Court directive for elections to be held in September 2026-27, with police assistance when needed.

The ABVP, an RSS-affiliated student wing, sees this as an opportunity to convert its long-standing campus presence into electoral advantage. They argue that the political mood in Delhi cannot be directly transplanted to Madhya Pradesh, as local academic and campus problems shape student concerns here. ABVP leaders highlight deficiencies in government colleges, such as inadequate classrooms, poor facilities, and security issues, as key campaign points.

They have launched the "Vidyarthi Hunkar Abhiyan" to address these issues district-wise and submit memos to the state Higher Education Minister.