Kolkata
First-time voters from city universities are keen to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing that without their participation, issues like university deadlocks, recruitment scams, and fundamental needs might not get addressed.
Kaustav Dey, a third-year Arts student, is concerned about safeguarding educational autonomy from government interference. He believes electing the right representative is crucial to restoring institutional independence and ensuring student body elections.
Sayan Dutta, an SFI member, criticized the current political landscape for its divisive campaigning and corruption. Students also highlighted the recent School Service Commission job crisis and aggressive political rhetoric as reasons to vote. Tista Adhikari, a first-year student, referenced the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel 26,000 teacher appointments from 2016 due to irregularities, which greatly affected teachers’ livelihoods.
Joyadrita, a final-year student from Jadavpur University, voiced concern over employment prospects due to recruitment scams. She said voting is vital to address these and other societal issues, including corruption and crimes against women.
Partha Pratim Roy, a senior professor at Jadavpur University, noted that students are anxious about the country’s direction, especially with policies that seem to favor corporate interests. He said students feel the impact of prolonged administrative conflicts and are eager to make their voices heard through their votes.
