Winds of political change in the state are being felt in the colleges too, with the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPM, losing control of nearly 22 of the 202 colleges where students’ union elections have been held so far this year.

Unlike its parent party CPM, the SFI, however, has not faced a rout, managing to retain its hold over 126 colleges while the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) and Congress-backed Chhatra Parishad have together won in 76 colleges.

But the SFI could not make inroads into any of the colleges that were controlled by rival students’ unions.

Most of the colleges where the SFI suffered losses are in districts like East Mindapore, where the Opposition has gained ground over the last few years. While it won in three of the 15 colleges in the district, in Bankura it won four and in Purulia, the CPM-backed student union cornered five colleges.

“We have lost nearly 20 colleges in the elections so far. At least 7-8 colleges have been won by capturing and not allowing voters to vote,” said Kaustav Chaterjee, the state secretary of SFI.

In districts like Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24-Parganas, the SFI continued its winning streak. In Howrah, of the 12 colleges that went to polls, it won in 9. Of the 23 colleges in Hooghly, it won 18. In North 24-Parganas, the SFI managed a win in 9 of the 10 colleges and in South 24-Parganas, it won 11 of the 13 colleges.

In Kolkata too, where elections have been held in 29 colleges, the CPM’s students’ wing managed to retain it hold in 23 colleges.

Baishwanar Chatterjee, the state president of TMCP, said his outfit managed to win in a number of colleges despite opposition from the SFI.