Student politics should nurture voices for change, not silence them through rivalry, corruption, or fear. Campuses must be spaces for leadership, not battlegrounds for power
OdishaPlus Bureau
The FM College incident has more to it than just the sexual harassment allegations against the teacher. There’s also a bit of petty student politics involved. Reports indicate that the student who passed away was part of the ABVP, and her self-immolation seems linked to the rivalry between two factions of the ABVP.
Student politics on Indian college campuses has a complicated past, characterized by lively activism but also marred by problems such as violence, corruption, and outside political meddling.
Campus politics have often been linked to violence. For example, in 2024, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was submitted to Kerala’s High Court aiming to prohibit campus politics because of violent events at Maharaja’s College, Kochi, which included the stabbing of a Students’ Federation of India (SFI) leader, reportedly by members of the Kerala Students Union (KSU) and Fraternity Movement. A professor with disabilities was also assaulted, resulting in a temporary shutdown.
These types of incidents are not one-offs. Historical records from the 1960s onward detail student unrest, with confrontations between opposing student factions frequently supported by political parties.
Student organizations like SFI (Students’ Federation of India), ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad), NSUI (National Students’ Union of India), and MSF (Muslim Students Federation) are essentially branches of national or regional political parties. This situation causes campus politics to be influenced by outside agendas instead of focusing on what’s best for students. Experts point out that politics tied to parties often breeds division and anger, which can sometimes lead to extreme consequences like murder, rather than encouraging healthy discussions.
There are numerous reports about corrupt activities, including favoritism from faculty towards students associated with local politicians or the leaking of exam papers, which seriously compromise academic integrity. Casteism in student union elections is another issue, with some labeling these elections as “hotbeds of casteism,” where the divisions among students are manipulated for political advantage.
Student activism is being met with harsh responses, like police lathicharges, FIRs, suspensions, and big fines. This indicates a push to silence student voices. In Kolkata, a gangrape case from 2025 at a law college ignited conversations about the ruling party’s grip on campuses, where student elections have been missing for more than ten years, hindering democratic processes.
In the Balasore incident, it was reported that Saumyasree Bisi faced pressure from college officials to drop her sexual harassment complaint, caught up in minor political games. This situation underscores the way campus politics can overlap with administrative shortcomings and concerns about student safety.
Some people believe that campus politics is crucial for developing leadership skills, political awareness, and civic involvement among students, many of whom are eligible to vote. It creates a space to tackle important topics like gender issues, environmental concerns, and social justice. A professor from JNU mentioned that politics influences the future of students, and they should have a voice in it.
Critics believe that although student politics has great potential, its current state, which is heavily swayed by outside influences, results in division and violence. They suggest that banning political party involvement could foster a more organic, debate-driven leadership.
In the past, courts have tried to limit campus politics. In 2003 and 2017, Kerala’s High Court decided that private colleges could prohibit politics, and in 2020, protests were ruled illegal. However, the enforcement in government colleges has been uneven. Students are also split along party lines (BJP/Congress/CPI/Indian Union Muslim League and other Left parties) and lack unity when it comes to student welfare.
Student politics in India has always been a hotbed for leadership and social change, but its darker sides—like violence, outside meddling, corruption, and oppression—still cloud its true potential.
The FM college incident and similar events highlight the urgent need for reforms to make sure campuses are places for constructive debate and leadership growth, not just arenas for political conflicts.