The Students' Federation of India (SFI) has taken a commanding lead in the first phase of student union elections at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat). The left-wing student body secured a decisive victory, winning 104 out of the 190 University Union Councillor (UUC) seats that were contested.
A Decisive First Phase Victory
The elections, which were conducted across various departments of the university on Friday, marked a significant shift in campus politics. The first phase was held to elect the university union councillors. These elected members hold the crucial responsibility of choosing the university general body members in the upcoming second phase of the electoral process.
With this strong performance, SFI has positioned itself favourably to regain control of the Cusat student union. The union was won last year by the Kerala Students Union (KSU) after a gap of 31 years. The rival groups, including the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), KSU, and Fraternity, collectively managed to secure 86 seats in this initial round.
The Road to Reclaiming the Union
SFI leaders have expressed confidence following this result. They attributed the comparatively poor performance of the rival student groups to what they described as the "anti-student policies" implemented by the previous union council led by KSU. The substantial lead gives SFI a clear pathway to reclaim the union presidency and other key positions when the general body is formed in the second phase.
The political landscape at Cusat has been intensely watched, given the historic win by KSU in the previous election cycle. SFI's current lead suggests a potential reversal of that outcome, signalling a possible return to dominance for the organisation on this prominent university campus in Kochi.
What Comes Next?
All attention now turns to the second phase of the polls. The newly elected University Union Councillors will soon convene to elect the university's general body members, including the union chairperson and other office-bearers. Based on the numbers from the first phase, SFI is expected to have a significant influence in these internal elections, effectively paving the way for them to lead the student union in the coming academic year.
The outcome underscores the dynamic and competitive nature of student politics at premier educational institutions like Cusat. The final result will be determined once the second phase of voting is completed, setting the agenda for student governance at the university.
