CPI-M student wings sweep Tripura student council polls

The two students' wings of the ruling CPI-M in Tripura -- Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Tribal Student's Union (TSU) -- have swept the student council polls in all 22 government-run degree colleges, officials said here on Wednesday.

However, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the first time secured 27 seats in the elections on Tuesday. The result was announced late Tuesday night.

Around 22 students of both SFI and ABVP, four journalists and 12 police officers, including Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Arindam Nath and West Tripura district police chief Abhijit Saptarshi, were injured in sporadic clashes and police baton-charge.

According to officials of the Higher Education Department of Tripura Government, of the total 778 seats in 22 college students' councils, the SFI and TSU candidates earlier won 530 seats unopposed in nine colleges.

"Under heavy security cover the elections were held on Tuesday for the remaining 248 seats in 13 colleges," an official of the Higher Education Department told the media.

He said the ABVP secured 27 seats of the total 778 seats in 22 college students' councils while the remaining seats were bagged by the SFI and TSU alliance.

The Congress' student wing National Students Union of India (NSUI) could not win any seat in the elections.

Sporadic clashes, police baton-charge and tension was witnessed during the elections, especially during the counting of votes until late Tuesday night.

Top leaders of the opposition BJP and ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist were active from behind to ensure victory in the elections, which is significant before the crucial assembly polls due in February next year.

Political analyst Subhash Das said the BJP replacing the Congress as the main opposition party in Tripura was evident from the college students' council elections.

--IANS

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