Bengaluru:The Karnataka Cabinet on Wednesday decided to reintroduce students election in the universities and colleges, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said. Political parties will not be allowed to take part in these elections, he said. “Student elections were earlier held in colleges but were subsequently banned. We have now decided to reintroduce elections in universities and colleges,” Parameshwara briefed reporters after the cabinet meeting. He explained that in each college, there will be one student president, two vice-presidents, including one woman, one general secretary, two joint secretaries, including one woman, and an executive committee of six members, including two women. There will be no reservation in these elections as the government does not want to promote caste-based elections among students, the Deputy CM said. The detailed modalities regarding when and how the elections will be held will be decided later, he added.

Parameshwara clarified that the students’ elections are not mandatory for colleges and it can happen only if students want it. “If students don’t want it, they can decide not to have it. The management cannot decide.