Why Only ABVP at HCU?

The University of Hyderabad (HCU) is known for its academic excellence and as a hub of student union elections energized by slogans of various ideologies. This temple of learning guides thousands of students from across the country and abroad. While some student organizations sincerely strive to create social awareness and contribute to building a better society, others, driven by outdated or foreign ideologies, attempt to mislead students into divisive movements. Some groups exploit caste, religion, and regional differences to divide the campus. Others narrate stories of victimhood and suicide, derailing students from their academic focus and pushing them into endless political conflicts.

Each year, student union elections take place at HCU. Around 12 to 13 organizations participate, but notably, only the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) contests independently. Almost all other organizations, due to their weak support base—whether numerically or ideologically—enter into alliances, as none of them can sustain alone.

The true purpose of these elections is simple: to represent students, resolve their issues, and nurture leadership among youth. By this standard, ABVP stands out as the only organization consistently addressing real student concerns. It promotes nationalist ideals, instills the spirit of “Nation First” among young people, and conducts year-round activities, making it the strongest and most visible force on campus. More and more students joining HCU resonate with this vision, where the nation comes before caste or religion.

Contradictions of Other Student Groups

Several leftist organizations like SFI and AISA continue to push outdated ideologies that most students reject, considering them irrelevant to national or academic concerns. Similarly, religious student groups such as MSF, SIO, and Fraternity focus not on students’ livelihoods or educational reforms but on global Muslim political issues, promoting the divisive slogan “First we are Muslims, then Indians.” This separatist mindset alienates them from the broader student community.

Caste-based organizations have also grown in number, often invoking Ambedkar’s name while pursuing agendas contrary to his vision. Groups such as ASA, DSU, BSF, and TSF use Ambedkar’s image but align with left extremists or Islamist groups—something Ambedkar had clearly warned against. For instance, Ambedkar himself cautioned that Dalits converting to Islam or Christianity would lose their national identity, yet today Dalit organizations ally with Islamist student bodies. Similarly, despite Ambedkar’s open rejection of Communism, caste-based groups tie up with Communist organizations like SFI.

This ideological contradiction confuses students, keeping them away from true Ambedkarite values. Tragedies like Rohith Vemula’s suicide were also the result of such political exploitation.

Meanwhile, Congress’s student wing NSUI hardly holds relevance on campus, reduced to a token presence. Other politically driven groups too—with no real conviction or vision—fail to connect with students nationally or in HCU.

Why the Campus Leans Toward ABVP

In contrast, ABVP has consistently shown commitment to students. Even when not in the students’ union, it remains accessible 24/7, addressing issues directly. Students remember how the 2018-19 ABVP panel’s victory led to visible positive changes in campus life and HCU’s higher national ranking. Since opposition coalitions took over thereafter, HCU’s NIRF ranking fell drastically—from 5th to 26th—due in part to an inactive and ineffective students' union.

Today, most students recognize that only ABVP can revive HCU’s lost academic glory. The upcoming 2025-26 student union elections, scheduled for September 19, are seen as a turning point. With its inclusive panel (ABVP-SLVD) representing diverse regions and communities, support for ABVP is strengthening further.

The Choice Before Students

Students now believe:

Only organizations that unite rather than divide deserve to lead.

Only groups ensuring transparency in union activities should be chosen.

Only leaders accessible and committed to solving academic and social issues should represent them.

By all these measures, ABVP emerges as the sole credible choice. Students and even faculty feel strongly that ABVP’s victory is inevitable this year. With it, HCU is expected to restore not just its lost rank but also its reputation as a premier center of excellence in higher education.

✍️🏼 Mahesh Medipalli - PhD Scholar,  Hyderabad Central University