ABVP sweeps Tripunithura Sanskrit College union polls, ends SFI dominance

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has swept the union elections at Tripunithura Government Sanskrit College, winning every major post and ending years of Students' Federation of India (SFI) dominance at the college.

The ABVP, the student wing of the BJP's ideological parent, the RSS, won all six major posts in the election.

The SFI had controlled the college union for several years, with the institution considered one of its strongholds.

Snigdha M Hari was elected Chairperson, while Aditya T A won the Vice-Chairperson's post. Vignesh Bhatt was elected General Secretary, Vignesh D became Magazine Editor, and Anjali T was elected Arts Club Secretary. Nivedya K N won the University Union Councillor post, while Shivani R and Avani C B were elected Second UG Representative and Second PG Representative respectively.

The ABVP described the result as a rejection of what it called the SFI's “anti-student policies”. An ABVP representative said the victory would boost the organisation's units on other campuses in Kerala.

The organisation also accused previous SFI-led unions of failing to promote Sanskrit, questioned the use of funds collected from students and alleged that insufficient student programmes had been organised during the SFI's tenure.

The campus result comes shortly after the BJP took control of the Tripunithura municipality, ending 45 years of Left-led rule in the local body. The ABVP has described its victory at the college, which had remained under Left control for more than four decades, as a significant organisational breakthrough in the area.