The enthusiastic participation of students in the student union elections in Uttarakhand, and the outcome of those elections, has clearly indicated the current political sentiment. Amidst ongoing protests over the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC) exam paper leak and irregularities in recruitment exams, it was widely believed that students and young people were angry. However, the way the student union elections were conducted has dispelled all such apprehensions. Approximately 80 percent of the student union seats in colleges were won by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). This is being seen as an endorsement of the Dhami government’s performance by the youth. Clearly, the results of the student union elections have sent a strong message to the political arena. The opposition and some organizations are currently staging protests, using the UKSSSC exam paper leak as their main issue.
