Ahead of Karnataka polls Rahul to launch nationalwide 'save the Constitution' drive

Agencies

April 15, 2018

New Delhi, Apr 15: Seeking to reach out to Dalits, Congress president Rahul Gandhi will on April 23 launch his party's nationwide 'save the constitution' campaign, aimed at highlighting attacks on the Constitution and the community.

The Congress present and former Dalit lawmakers, those holding offices in Zilla Parishad, civic bodies and panchayat samitis, will take part in the launch event, aimed at sensitising the attendees on the current state of affairs with regard to the community.

Besides, the Congress' office-bearers attached to its regional units, its youth, women and Seva Dal wings will also attend the event, to be held here at the Talkatora stadium.

The attendees are expected to take the message forward, holding similar campaigns in states to reach out to community members, said the Congress' scheduled caste department chairman and event organiser Nitin Raut.

"The Constitution is under attack under the BJP's rule. The community is being denied educational, employment opportunities. There is anger among its members on various issues. The meeting will highlight that. Our leaders will take the message from the convention in their respective areas," Raut added.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reported remarks that he could be elevated to the coveted post because of the Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, Raut asked why then the Constitution and Dalits were reportedly under attack under his dispensation.

Raut further claimed that such a situation did not prevail when the Congress was in power.

The Congress has delivered for the community. Those attending the convention will highlight that too in their areas, he added.

Dalits form roughly 17% of the country's electorate. There are 84 parliamentary seats reserved for candidates belonging to the scheduled castes.

The BJP had bagged nearly half of the seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, reflecting on its success in politically key states such as Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Raut said only three-four seats were won by the Congress then. The party now aims to win as many seats as possible in the next general election, he added.

Efforts are also on to galvanise the Dalit community's support to Rahul nationally, the party sources said.

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Campus politics: DKS pushes to restore student elections in Karnataka banned since 1989

News Network

November 26,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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