New Delhi, 06 July (H.S.): The Indian National Congress on Monday announced the restoration of internal elections in the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), marking the beginning of a nationwide organisational exercise aimed at strengthening democratic participation within its student wing. The process will commence with a state-wise membership drive, followed by technology-enabled, transparent elections from the college level up to the state level.

The announcement was made during a joint press conference by Congress leader and NSUI Delhi in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar, NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar, former National General Secretary of the Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Organisation Kiran Mugabasav, and Congress Digital Department National Coordinator K.K. Shastri.

Addressing the media, Kanhaiya Kumar demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy and called for an investigation into his alleged links with the paper leak mafia. He alleged that the Narendra Modi government had pushed India's education system into an ICU-like condition.

Kumar said that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has been interacting with students across the country to understand their concerns and gather suggestions for comprehensive education reforms.

He outlined the Congress party's three principal demands: the resignation of the Union Education Minister and an inquiry into his alleged links with examination paper leak networks; comprehensive reforms in the education system, noting that while the previous UPA government had proposed reforms through a committee, the NDA government instead established the National Testing Agency (NTA); and the introduction of a regular job calendar along with a structured academic and recruitment calendar for examinations.

He said Rahul Gandhi had recently presented these proposals before students and parents in Kota, and that the campaign would now be expanded to different parts of the country. Suggestions received from students, teachers and parents will be compiled into a comprehensive Education Charter, which the Congress plans to release in the coming months.

NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar alleged that India's education system was in decline and that educational institutions were being systematically weakened. He further claimed that student union elections had been discontinued across the country as part of a deliberate strategy.

Referring to Delhi University, Jakhar questioned the repeated extension granted to the Vice-Chancellor, calling it a matter of concern. He said NSUI had initiated its own organisational elections and would constitute units on every campus through democratic voting, enabling students to raise their concerns through elected representatives.

Former Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Organisation National General Secretary Kiran Mugabasav said NSUI elections would now be restored nationwide. She asserted that Congress remains the only political party that conducts democratic elections within its organisational structure.

She explained that the election schedule would be announced on a state-wise basis. The first phase will comprise a membership campaign open to students between the ages of 16 and 27 years. Applicants will be required to submit valid college identity cards and Aadhaar cards. The membership fee has been fixed at Rs 45 for a three-year term.

Following the formation of college committees, elected representatives will participate in district and state-level organisational elections.

Congress Digital Department National Coordinator K.K. Shastri said the Congress leadership had constituted a Central Election Authority on April 30 to oversee internal NSUI elections. He said the digital election module had been designed to ensure that the process remains open, simple and transparent.

According to Shastri, the elections will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will cover elections for college and university presidents along with the formation of campus committees, while the second phase will include district and state-level organisational elections. He added that the results would be declared after completion of scrutiny and verification to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar