The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Andaman and Nicobar unit finds itself on the defensive amid the ongoing student agitation over the proposed shift of island colleges from affiliation with Pondicherry University to a deemed-to-be university framework, a situation many party insiders say could have been avoided with earlier political engagement and clearer communication.
According to multiple party sources who spoke to The Wave Andaman, the BJP’s local leadership initially chose to maintain silence when the protests began, first at the local law college before spreading to other institutions. The hesitation, insiders say, stemmed from the fact that the idea of strengthening higher education infrastructure in the islands, including the possibility of a university framework, had been publicly articulated at the highest levels of government, making it difficult for the local unit to appear publicly sceptical.
Sources said state BJP president Anil Tiwari, who took charge around six months ago and is known for his organisational background and RSS links, had informally instructed party workers not to issue independent statements on the issue. The aim, according to insiders, was to prevent the local unit from appearing to question a policy direction associated with the central leadership.
However, as the protests gathered momentum and concerns among parents and students deepened, particularly around fee structures, degree recognition and academic standards, several senior BJP functionaries reportedly urged the leadership to articulate a clearer stand.
One senior leader told The Wave Andaman that he had suggested the party push the administration to release a detailed white paper explaining how the proposed transition would be implemented, what safeguards would exist for students, and how academic quality would be ensured. The leader said such clarity was essential given that some existing autonomous institutions in the islands, including the medical and engineering colleges, had earlier faced administrative teething issues such as delays in mark sheets and curriculum transitions.
While many deemed institutions in India are nationally reputed, party insiders acknowledged that public perception in the islands remains mixed, with apprehensions fuelled by past experiences and by reports of weaker private deemed universities elsewhere in the country.
Political observers say the vacuum created by the BJP’s silence allowed rival parties and student groups to shape the narrative early in the agitation. “The issue quickly became emotional rather than academic because there was no structured outreach explaining the pros and cons,” one observer said.
Another issue that has drawn attention within the party is the apparent lack of control of the state leadership over sections of its own cadre. At least two witnesses told The Wave Andaman that prominent BJP workers, including Ankit Mridha, associated with the ABVP, and Anshuman Roy, a party office-bearer, were seen at the agitation venue expressing sympathy with protesting students. Party insiders say such developments reinforced the perception of mixed signals within the organisation at a time when a unified communication strategy was needed.
What has also been missing from the broader discourse, observers note, is a structured debate on the merits and drawbacks of the deemed university proposal itself. While strong arguments have been made against the move and the overwhelming political sentiment appears to favour a central university, analysts point out that the deemed university model is not without potential advantages. Equally, they add, the creation of a central university alone would not automatically resolve systemic academic or administrative challenges in the islands.
Instead, the issue now appears to have moved beyond an education policy discussion into a wider political contest. Multiple parties are seeking to position themselves as the strongest defenders of student interests, while factional competition within parties has further sharpened the rhetoric, turning what began as an academic policy debate into a larger test of political positioning in the islands.
The situation escalated further after Tiwari, speaking at a public event, strongly defended the creation of a deemed university and made remarks on the education system that drew criticism from sections of the public as well as within the party. The comments triggered sharp reactions across political and student circles.
By Monday morning, at least two senior BJP workers had resigned, according to party sources, while another leader from North Andaman had reportedly prepared to step down before the move was stalled following intervention from higher authorities.
Tiwari later addressed a press conference, stating that his remarks had been taken out of context and reiterating the party’s commitment to educational development in the islands. However, the episode has intensified internal debate over the local unit’s communication strategy and leadership style.
Several party members privately expressed concerns that organisational decisions in recent months, including appointments to key committees, had left sections of the cadre feeling unheard.
With municipal elections not far away, political observers say the current episode could carry electoral consequences for the party unless it recalibrates quickly. Several analysts believe the BJP’s local unit may face political costs if it does not move to broaden consultations, improve communication with students and parents, and adopt a more inclusive leadership style. Some observers argue that the agitation has exposed organisational fault lines that, if left unaddressed, could influence voter sentiment in the months leading up to the polls.
Political analysts say the BJP still retains a strong organisational base in the islands, but the present episode has exposed weaknesses in its local political management.
With the issue now drawing attention beyond the islands, many observers believe the next course of action will depend on signals from the party’s central leadership as well as on how effectively the local unit rebuilds trust among students and parents.
For now, the agitation has become not just an education debate, but a test of the BJP’s political instincts in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
