Mess Fees, NEP, and Campus Safety Take Centre Stage in UoH Presidential Debate

Hyderabad:Rising mess costs, the National Education Policy (NEP), internships and placements, scholarships, academic access and campus safety are among the major issues the University of Hyderabad Students’ Union presidential candidates have prioritised in their campaigns. The three candidates debated on Saturday, the final day of campaigning, before students vote on September 28 and results are declared on September 29.

Dilshada Raihan V.P. of the ASA-AISA-DSU-SFI-TSF alliance, K. Naveen Kumar of the PDSU-MSF-NSUI-Fraternity alliance and Naresh P. of ABVP-SLVD set out different positions, while candidates outside the three main alliances are also contesting individual posts.

“NEP has been introduced, but we still plan to fight the problems created by its roll-out,” said Raihan She questioned whether the mandatory internships were functioning properly across schools and called for an internship cell, a university internship policy and a grievance process for students who face problems during internships. She also proposed internship and placement melas and described the existing placement cell as “near to zero”.

Naveen of the ABVP alliance took a different line on the NEP (New Education Policy). He said his alliance would engage university committees and official bodies on the policy and promised to oppose cuts in seats, seek the filling of every notified seat and run preparatory classes for Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-Postgraduate aspirants. “We will give particular attention to students from rural backgrounds and SC and ST community candidates,” said Naveen, an MA Anthropology student from Narayanpet district.

Naresh’s campaign focused on academic facilities and access. The ABVP-SLVD grouping calls for transparent and consistent grading, stronger libraries, more books, journals and digital resources, longer library hours during examinations, a 24-hour reading room, off-campus access to e-journals, better-maintained classrooms and laboratories, working equipment and updated computers.

The ASA-AISA-DSU-SFI-TSF panel has also fielded Korra Nithin for vice-president, Pratik for general secretary, Sidhant for joint secretary, Abhinash for cultural secretary and Villyamkery for sports secretary against the ABVP-SLVD’s Barsharani Behera, Venisa Choudhary, Sapthagiri, Madhur and Banoth Sai and the PDSU-MSF-NSUI-Fraternity Harsh Anand, Aflah, Jusna, Afthab and Swati, respectively.

Raihan also pointed out that mess fees had risen by an average of 450 a month, and said students were “not getting high-level food” despite paying more. She said students had recently been charged for several laboratories, particularly in science schools, and argued that a public institution should remain affordable. Her proposals cover menstrual leave, attendance relaxation for chronically ill students, better access for disabled students and proper application of the transgender policy adopted in 2024. She also called for a safer campus for minorities, LGBTQIA+ students, women and Muslims.

Naresh added another welfare proposal during the debate. “We want free sanitary napkins to be available to everyone who needs them on campus,” he said. His campaign profile says he has worked on DAG scholarship releases and delays in Telangana ePASS scholarships.

Speaking against the ABVP and SFI-led fronts, Naveen accused them of violating the democratic nature of the campus. He accused the ABVP of carrying out a “purification” of the Students’ Union office and argued that the act showed its attitude towards Dalit, Bahujan and minority students. He said ABVP violence and SFI’s exclusionary politics had no place on campus.

Caste discrimination, representation and financial support also feature in campaigns outside the presidential race. The All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA) has formed Students for Social Justice and is backing Ch. Ratna Kumar for general secretary. Its campaign material calls for application of the UGC Social Equity Regulations, 2026, an end to caste discrimination, stronger scholarships and fellowships, accessible campus facilities, better mess, healthcare, transport and academic support, UGC-NET coaching, UPSC orientation and protection of UoH land, flora and fauna. BSF-HCU is separately backing Sneha Vankudoth, an MA Sociology student, for general secretary.

Raihan represents the Ambedkar Students Association (ASA), All India Students Association (AISA), Dalit Students Union (DSU), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Tribal Students Forum (TSF) alliance. Naresh the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)-Sevalal Vidyarthi Dal (SLVD) alliance, and Naveen the Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU)-Muslim Students Front (MSF)-National Students’ Union of India (NSUI)-Fraternity alliance. The BRSV-HCU has stayed out of the election but extended organisational support to the ASA-AISA-DSU-SFI-TSF alliance.