Almost after 150 hours, the students of Kolkata’s Presidency University have withdrawn their sit-in citing partial acceptance of their demands.

The protest, led by nearly 50 members of the Students Federation of India (SFI), began on March 20 on the campus, seeking immediate student union elections and a more active placement cell.

Additionally, the students have given the administration a deadline to arrange a meeting with the state government, stating they will resume their agitation through protest rallies.

The University authorities said they have since committed to initiating discussions with the state government regarding the conduct of elections along with other moves.

This comes weeks after protests for student elections turned violent in Jadavpur University, with state education minister Bratya Basu and students levelling allegations of harassment at each other.

Apart from the student elections, the Presidency students have demanded that the college placement cell be made more active, the formation of a central internship cell, a meeting between the student representatives and the administration regarding a “financial crisis”, and a proper medical unit and ambulance for the university.

Shuvajit Sarkar, SFI West Bengal committee vice-president and an alumnus of Presidency University, told The Indian Express, “The students of Presidency, led by the SFI Presidency University unit, are fighting for their rights. They have achieved some demands and we are hopeful that they will achieve the rest of the demands. The government needs to give dates of the elections immediately. The students of Presidency, especially when led by the SFI, have always been victorious and they have championed protests into successful student movements.”

According to a deputation submitted to the authorities, students had demanded the elections in order to recognise the importance of ensuring the “healthy functioning” of the university and safeguarding “democratic representation” of students in various committees.