Creative Protest Sparks Conversation

On July 9, 2025, students at Rajasthan University in Jaipur staged a striking demonstration, placing life-size cut-outs of prominent politicians on campus grounds. The symbolic display featured figures such as former CM Ashok Gehlot, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, MP Hanuman Beniwal, Satish Poonia, Harish Chaudhary and others—leaders who began their careers via student politics—to demand the resumption of student union elections, suspended since 2022.

Timeline of Student Activism

• 2022: Last time student union elections were held in Rajasthan.
• July 9, 2025: Unique protest using cut-outs, led by student leader Shubham Rewar 1.

Why This Matters

Students argue that union elections serve as a vital training ground for democracy and grassroots leadership. Protesters say alumni from these polls bring valuable youth perspectives to governance—something currently missing in campus life and beyond 2.

Voices from the Protest

Shubham Rewar, spearheading the movement, stated that student polls are not mere rituals—they generate leaders “attuned to grassroots issues” and shape political futures 3.

Student leaders also highlighted past activism: hunger strikes, foot marches spanning 1,500 km dubbed “Chhatra Kranti Padyatra”, blood-written letters, and street plays—yet no response from the administration 4.

Political Endorsement

Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot voiced support via X, calling student polls essential for political education. He criticized the BJP-led state government for withholding elections and urged prompt reinstatement, reminding that even during assembly elections, polls were only postponed—not canceled 5.

Notable Cut-outs on Display

• Ashok Gehlot – former CM
• Gajendra Singh Shekhawat – Union Minister
• Hanuman Beniwal – Nagaur MP
• Satish Poonia – ex-BJP state president
• Harish Chaudhary – national-level leader

Trivia for Quiz Buffs

• Last union polls: 2022.
• Protest date: July 9, 2025.
• Foot march length: ~1,500 km (“Chhatra Kranti Padyatra”).
• Platform used: X (formerly Twitter).
• Repeating activists: Shubham Rewar leading demand for two years.

Conclusion

This innovative protest highlights how students leverage political symbolism to revive democratic practices on campus. It underscores a broader debate in Rajasthan—should student union elections return? Until then, the cut-outs serve as a compelling reminder of the power and legacy of student activism.

Source: Theprint