The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is rapidly advancing plans to implement student unions in colleges and universities, as outlined in the March 6 budget proposal. In a recent meeting in Bengaluru, representatives from various student organizations, including those affiliated with the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)), and Left parties, expressed unanimous support for conducting elections within the current academic year. The ministers responsible for higher education assured participants that they would recommend the swift establishment of rules and guidelines for the elections. Key discussions included demands for structured representation within student bodies, with proposals for women’s reservations and a 70% quota for Kannada-speaking students. However, some members raised concerns about proposed eligibility criteria, arguing that they could unfairly limit participation. The government intends to align its approach with the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee, which provided guidelines for student elections two decades ago.