From classroom to crores: How money redefined student politics in Arunachal Pradesh

After a gap of nearly three years, elections to the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) are being held again, the last having taken place in 2022. Unlike many student elections elsewhere in the country, AAPSU polls involve participation from across Arunachal Pradesh, with delegates from various student bodies travelling from different districts.

With an estimated voter base of around 6,000, the elections are not merely a campus exercise but a statewide political event. Former and current student leaders say that campaigning, particularly for top posts such as president, has become increasingly resource-intensive, with delegates required to travel, stay, and remain engaged throughout the election process.

Compared to the 2022 polls, several students and former leaders said the financial scale of campaigning appears considerably larger this time. “With time, the scale increases and so do expectations,” a former AAPSU leader said, pointing to the expansion of higher-education institutions and a growing student base.

Former AAPSU general secretary Tobom Dai recalls a very different election culture.

“In earlier times, elections were much simpler and more issue-driven,” he said. Delegates from across districts stayed in classrooms or community halls, carried light bedding, and shared meals arranged by the conference committee at the venue. Interactive sessions, cultural programmes, and open discussions fostered what he described as a strong sense of Pan-Arunachal unity.

Introduction rounds were mandatory for all federal unit leaders, state and student issues were debated at length, and resolutions were openly moved, discussed, and adopted. These resolutions became the charter of demands for the newly elected body.

“That process ensured accountability,” Dai said.

Over the years, however, this culture has steadily eroded. According to Dai, the growing involvement of money has fundamentally altered the nature of AAPSU elections, affecting not just campaign styles but also the independence of leadership.

“Even an honest leader cannot withstand the lure of monetary involvement to win elections,” he said. “In the process, leaders start managing funds from different sources, which ultimately has a deep impact on the independence of an AAPSU leader.”

He also pointed to the rise of what many now call “hotel culture”, where delegates are housed in expensive hotels rather than shared community spaces. The result, Dai argued, is isolation instead of interaction, with delegates “locked away” from discussion and debate. Aggressive campaigning and high financial stakes have also, at times, led to clashes between supporters of rival camps.

An academician, speaking on condition of anonymity, said student unions are expected to act as democratic role models not just for students but for institutions more broadly.

In Arunachal Pradesh, however, the academic noted that the giving and taking of money has become increasingly normalised in electoral politics, including student elections.

“What is concerning is that voters often accept money or material benefits from multiple candidates,” the academic said, adding that such practices are now socially accepted rather than contested.

The structure of Arunachal itself compounds the issue. Each geographical region is inhabited by distinct social and cultural groups whose affiliations differ. Combined with the state’s vast and difficult terrain, this means candidates are expected to bear the cost of voter travel, accommodation, meetings, and sustained outreach across districts.

“As a result, only candidates with political reach and resources can realistically think of contesting,” the academic said.

Advertising hoardings across the campus of Rajiv Gandhi University are nothing new during AAPSU elections. Large posters blanket hostel walls, academic blocks, and common spaces across the Itanagar twin capital, creating an intensity of visual campaigning, the costs of which are difficult to estimate.

Add to this the roadside hoardings outside the university gates, and the financial footprint of the election becomes unmistakable. Hoardings and banners featuring AAPSU election contenders are also visible across Itanagar and in other parts of the state, suggesting that the campaign has expanded beyond student spaces into public and urban landscapes.

According to prevailing local advertising rates, renting a single roadside hoarding can cost around ₹15,000 per month, with banner printing adding another ₹5,000. Replicated across multiple locations and districts, visual campaigning alone can involve substantial expenditure.

Among students, the financial scale of AAPSU elections is neither hidden nor denied.

A postgraduate student at RGU described the polls as “the biggest festival of Arunachal Pradesh”, marked by continuous celebration, feasting, and campaigning.

“Money plays a significant role in this election, and unfortunately, we are the ones fuelling it,” the student said. At the same time, they noted that money circulating during elections is often used by students to support families, pay rent, clear debts, cover medical expenses, or fund education.

“Ultimately, it’s up to the individual how they use it,” the student said, reflecting a moral ambiguity that many students appear to have accepted.

A scholar from NERIST (North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology) said AAPSU campaigns are highly visible on campus. According to him, candidates distribute calendars, fuel coupons, stationery, pamphlets, and sponsor lunches or dinners.

“In the present scenario, it’s not possible to contest without money,” he said, clarifying that this does not always involve direct cash transfers but expenditure in various forms. While wealthier candidates and those with networks clearly enjoy an advantage, he added that some voters still assess candidates based on image, intellect, and past work.

Byabang Hapo Dui, a candidate contesting for the post of AAPSU president, acknowledged that campaigning now spans multiple institutions, including postgraduate departments at RGU, NERIST, NIT, and other campuses.

“Campaigning involves constant interaction with students, meetings, travel, and everyday expenses,” the candidate said. While acknowledging that money has become part of election culture, he maintained that ensuring a peaceful election was his priority. Students, he added, often expect a certain level of hospitality and engagement during campaigns, which further reinforces the money culture.

Students openly acknowledge that many candidates see the union as a launchpad for larger political ambitions. Campaign styles, power hierarchies, and internal functioning increasingly resemble state-level politics, with real authority concentrated in posts such as president and general secretary.

“We all know AAPSU is the gateway to state politics,” the scholar in NERIST said. “They do resemble state-level politics.”

According to the AAPSU Constitution, the union is meant to function as a “purely non-political students’ organisation” under the motto “Learn to Serve”. However, while the Constitution lays down procedures for the conduct of elections, it does not prescribe any spending limits, disclosure requirements, or mechanisms to audit campaign expenditure.

The Constitution also vests significant authority in the president, who serves as the constitutional head of the union and holds overall control over union funds, in consultation with the general secretary and finance secretary. Former leaders argue that this concentration of power partly explains why the presidential race attracts the most intense campaigning and highest expenditure.

The impact of this money-driven ecosystem extends beyond optics; it shapes who gets to lead.

Students from economically weaker backgrounds, first-generation learners, and those without political networks often rule themselves out before elections even begin. Many said they had ideas and interest but not the resources.

“A capable student without financial backing would find it nearly impossible to contest today,” a former leader said.

Former AAPSU leader Takam Padu warned that the flow of money has worsened over the years. “Earlier, money had little or no role. Today, the election process itself has become compromised,” he said, adding that excessive financial involvement has weakened the organisation’s credibility and diluted its role as a public voice.

AAPSU has long positioned itself as a watchdog on governance in Arunachal Pradesh, addressing issues related to corruption, recruitment irregularities, and policy failures. Yet internally, there are no formal spending limits, no mandatory disclosures, and no independent oversight mechanism for elections.

Even the state’s political leadership has acknowledged the problem. Speaking at the Inter-Tribe Festival 2025, Chief Minister Pema Khandu urged AAPSU to contemplate and reform its election process.

“It is an open secret that huge amounts of money exchange hands during elections of student organisations,” he said, calling on AAPSU to lead by example in checking the money factor.

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