Student Union elections will be held this year in Colleges & Universities: Bratya Basu

West Bengal's Education Minister Bratya Basu has announced that student union elections will be held in colleges and universities this year. The declaration was made on Sunday in Bolpur during the 41st state convention of the Trinamool Professor's Association at Geetanjali Auditorium. The event saw the presence of Deputy Speaker Ashish Banerjee and Minister Chandranath Sinha. Traditionally held in Kolkata, this year’s convention was organized in different districts to expand outreach.

During his address, Basu launched a sharp attack on the opposition, stating, "Out of frustration, they will try everything possible to disrupt our work. They will move from emptiness to a vacuum, but their false allegations will hold no weight. Despite all the negativity, Mamata Banerjee will take oath as Chief Minister again in 2026." He also highlighted the state’s progress in education, noting that before 2011, there were only 34 government colleges, whereas 33 new government colleges had been set up in the last decade. He emphasized improvements in infrastructure, efficiency, and transfer policies within the education system.

In a key announcement, the minister revealed plans for a new government college in Birbhum district, stating that the process was already underway. He also confirmed that student union elections will take place in 2025, despite pending legal matters. A meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be held soon to finalize the details.

At the convention, Abdur Rafiq Sardar, the state president of the Professor's Association, and Sutapa Sanyal, the state secretary, raised concerns about professors’ grievances. Addressing them, Basu reiterated that the transfer policy had been made fully transparent. However, he urged the association to ensure the smooth functioning of colleges. He pointed out that while some professors had remained at the same institution for a long time without transfer, others were frequently absent, leading to academic disruptions. He insisted that such negligence must be identified and rectified.

The event also saw Basu taking an indirect dig at West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose amidst the ongoing conflict between the Raj Bhavan and the state government. Without naming him, he commented, "We hope he recovers mentally soon." His remarks hinted at the tensions between the Trinamool Congress government and the Governor, particularly over education-related matters.