Despite the traditionally strong presence of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) in Kerala’s college campuses, ABVP’s stellar performance in the recently concluded elections has raised eyebrows.
The elections witnessed contests for 53 class representative positions across 27 departments. Impressively, the ABVP emerged victorious in 16 of these seats, signalling a notable shift in the political landscape. Of the 53 elected representatives responsible for voting in 10 candidates to various general seats, ABVP secured three significant wins – Vice President, Joint Secretary, and an Executive Council Member.
SFI, maintaining its stronghold in Kerala, managed to secure three seats, including the positions of President, Secretary, and one Executive Council Member. The Congress-led National Students Union of India (NSUI) also made its mark by clinching four seats – Vice President, Joint Secretary, and two Executive Council Members.
Notably, various student groups contested the elections, including SFI, ABVP, NSUI, the Indian Union Muslim League-controlled Muslim Students Federation (MSF), AISA, Fraternity, and Ambedkar Students Association (ASA).
The outcome of the Central University of Kerala elections is seen as a clear indication of ABVP’s rising influence in the state’s campuses, breaking the traditional dominance of other student bodies. The saffron flag of ABVP appears poised to make significant inroads into the student political landscape in Kerala, reshaping the narrative of campus politics in the region. The election results mark a shift in the dynamics, and observers anticipate a larger presence of the ABVP in Kerala’s academic institutions in the coming times.
