The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) won the Kannur University union elections for the 26th consecutive year, defeating the Kerala Students’ Union–Muslim Students Front (KSU-MSF) alliance amid violent clashes on the Thavakkara campus on Wednesday (August 6, 2025). Several students and police personnel were injured in the clash.
SFI candidates Nandaj Babu, chairman, M. Diljith, vice-chairman, Alna Vinod, vice-chairperson, Kavitha Krishnan, general secretary, and K. Adisha, joint secretary, won key posts. P.K. Sreerag secured the Kannur district executive seat. The MSF’s Muhammed Nihal won the Wayanad district executive post through a draw, while the MSF’s M.T.P. Fida clinched the Kasaragod district executive by two votes. The SFI defeated the KSU–MSF alliance by a margin of 34 votes.
Violence erupted as polling began at 10 a.m., with the SFI alleging that KSU–MSF activists attempted vote rigging and tried to enter the campus without identity cards. The KSU–MSF alliance, in turn, accused the SFI of abducting Safwan, a university union councillor from MIC Arts and Science College, Kasaragod.
Clashes reportedly intensified around 11.30 a.m. when the police detained SFI candidate Adisha over the MSF’s allegation that she had torn a ballot paper. Civil police officer Rajani, SFI district president Ashwanth, and SFI area committee member Vaishnav Prakashan were among those injured in the clash.
SFI State secretary P.S. Sanjeev accused Kannur Town sub-inspector V.V. Deepthi of assaulting workers without provocation. The police, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kannur City) Pradeepan Kannipoyil, removed both groups from the polling booth and maintained a heavy presence on campus to prevent further unrest.
The SFI also accused KSU-MSF workers of escalating violence, claiming that Youth Congress and Youth League activists from outside had attacked SFI members.
Published – August 06, 2025 09:31 pm IST
