Sri Vijaya Puram | February 26, 2026
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has reiterated its demand that the Central Government accept the plea of college students in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to continue the affiliation of all seven colleges with Pondicherry University, instead of shifting them under the newly established Deemed University.
The issue was raised during a meeting of an all-party delegation with the Chief Secretary of the A&N Administration in Sri Vijaya Puram on Wednesday. CPI(M) State Secretary D. Ayyappan urged the Chief Secretary to take up the matter with the Government of India and keep in abeyance the decision to disaffiliate the colleges from Pondicherry University and affiliate them with the Deemed University.
According to CPI(M), the Chief Secretary expressed his inability to intervene, stating that the decision to affiliate the colleges with the newly established Deemed University had been taken by the Government of India.
Later in the evening, addressing a public meeting organised by the Joint Action Forum of students, political parties and various organisations at Tiranga Park, Aberdeen, Mr. Ayyappan said that under the Constitutional scheme, Union Territories without a legislature are administered by Administrators and officers appointed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. He stated that decisions taken by the Lt Governor and officials in the Islands are in accordance with the policies of the Central Government.
Mr. Ayyappan alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had established the Deemed University for the Islands and subsequently affiliated all existing colleges under it after disaffiliating them from Pondicherry University. He demanded that the Central Government hold discussions with the agitating students and arrive at a solution.
Students from ABVP, NSUI and SFI have been jointly staging protests over the issue for the past three weeks. CPI(M) claimed that the BJP, which had supported the establishment of the Deemed University and the disaffiliation move, now stands “exposed,” with some of its leaders reportedly quitting the party. The party also pointed out that a complete hartal was observed across the Islands on February 16 in support of the students’ agitation.
