In this episode of Another Election Show, we caught up with students of Jadavpur University and Presidency University at Kolkata in West Bengal. The two leading universities are often in the news for the ideological or political activism of their students. 

Newslaundry spoke to the students about politics in Bengal, the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, and the major poll planks. Most of the students pointed to corruption and the Sandeshkhali controversy under the Mamata Banerjee government as the big election issues. The cancellation of teacher jobs by the Calcutta High Court and unemployment were also major talking points. 

The students criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “communal speeches” and the centre’s new education policy. A student said the BJP had come to power twice by “propagating hate”, while another claimed that the government “wants to weaken higher education and is insisting on students taking up vocational courses”.

The Congress manifesto and Modi’s allegations against it were also discussed. On the alleged “sexual abuse” controversy involving JDS leader Prajwal Revanna in Karnataka and Sandeshkhali in Bengal, a student asserted that “no right-wing party will be liberal towards women”.

Watch.