National Students Union of India (NSUI) members, led by state president Shambhavi Shandilya, staged a dharna on Tuesday to press for early election to students’ unions in universities across the state.

Around two weeks ago, human resource minister P.K. Shahi had sent notices to the universities to hold students’ body elections. He had also said it was the universities’ responsibility to hold the polls.

Shandilya on Tuesday met the acting vice-chancellor (VC) of Jai Prakash (JP) University, Birendra Narayan Yadav, and submitted a charter of demands. She said he admitted to have received the notice from the minister.

Yadav said a statutory committee would be formed and regulations from the committee would be sought. Thereafter, the regulations would be sent to the governor for approval. “Once we get the governor’s approval, we will make preparations for the students’ union elections. But this will take a month’s time,” he said, adding that the elections might be held in July.

This will be for the first time that JP University will have students’ representatives since its inception in 1992. Shandilya said she met Patna University VC Shambhu Nath Singh on Monday with the same demand. Singh, however, said that he had not received any such instruction from the government.

JP University Research Scholars’ Association convener Vishvajit Singh Chandel welcomed the state government’s decision to hold students’ union elections. Elections in the state universities were held 28 years ago.

The government’s decision to hold the elections in the universities has been welcomed by students’ wings of various political parties. The NSUI wants the elections to be held by July, a demand that was also supported by Ranvir Kumar Singh, the presidents of the JD(U)’s student wing.

Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad Saran district president Ranjan Yadav said: “The government has finally understood the importance of holding students’ union elections in universities and colleges. This is good for a strong democracy. The leaders at the helm of affairs in Bihar are product of students’ politics.”