The race for the post of General Secretary in the Students’ Union (SU) brings with it a diverse set of candidates, each offering different experiences, priorities, and ideas for reform. Among them is Anuj Wagh, a third-year student pursuing Chemical Engineering, who has positioned his campaign on persistence, involvement across multiple clubs and committees, and a belief in the importance of student voices in decision-making.

Wagh, who entered the SU ecosystem early in his first year through the encouragement of then General Secretary Abhinav Lambha, has steadily built a resume that spans entrepreneurship-focused bodies, sports teams, and cultural clubs. He pointed to these experiences as the foundation of his understanding of campus governance, citing his experience in handling merchandise signings and their chargings. This, along with his vast experience in the numerous clubs he has been a part of and PORs he has held, allowed him to understand on a deeper level how management works; and this, he stated, was what motivated his candidature for General Secretary.

When asked what drew him to student politics, Wagh framed it less as a pursuit of power and more as an exercise in resilience. “When you actually get into politics, 50% of people are with you, 50% are without you,” he remarked, noting that backlash is an inevitable part of leadership. He also acknowledged the personal cost of campaigning, claiming he has “lost a lot of personal relationships, seniors, and juniors [sic],” in the process.

Yet for Wagh, the drive to contest stems from both personal and collective concerns. He referenced the loss of family members during his first year and the chaotic atmosphere of fest review meets as formative experiences, describing the campus as a “home away from home” that requires stronger leadership. In his view, the lack of basic amenities like reliable Wi-Fi, clean water, well-maintained hostels, and a thriving tech or club culture outside of major festivals remains a pressing concern.

On the question of why he chose to contest for the post of General Secretary rather than President, Wagh offered both subjective and objective reasoning. Subjectively, he acknowledged that his portfolio lacks significant financial initiatives, which the presidency often demands. Objectively, he pointed to the realities of campus politics, where “This senior won’t support you, this junior won’t support you [sic],” suggesting that his chosen post would give him a more practical entry point to leadership. He stressed that his experience working with “15–18 clubs” gave him an advantage in understanding everyday challenges, such as booking rooms or managing departmental logistics.

Wagh was also candid about why he did not contest elections for Hostel Representative or Sports Representative. While these posts are often seen as stepping stones into higher office, he noted that historically no HRep has ever successfully won a Students’ Union election again. He admitted that avoiding such positions was partly due to this pattern, agreeing that it was a “superstition” but conceding that it played into his decision nonetheless.

One of his stronger critiques was directed at the removal of freshers’ voting rights. He argued that while the decision aimed to curb malpractice, it had the side effect of leaving six Hostel Representative positions uncontested, diminishing competition, and limiting freshers’ engagement with student politics. “Students don’t know basic things like what is going to be a common room debate, what is actually campaigning, what is actually talking to people [sic],” he said, suggesting that the absence of voting rights alienates new students from the campus political culture.

If elected, Wagh stated that his immediate priority would be addressing class scheduling, specifically advocating for shifting the 8 AM slot to 9 AM during the winter, a long-discussed issue he believes is now feasible due to the reinstated attendance policy. Alongside this, he promised to pursue the establishment of a healthier campus eatery, a franchise of a chain already operating in Modi University. This initiative, he argued, would provide an alternative to the often-criticised food outlets on campus.

Wagh also expressed a desire to reform the Union Council itself, proposing a review system to hold its members accountable. He criticised the lack of follow-through among council members, particularly when engaging with administration, citing poorly attended protests and meetings. In his words, post-COVID councils have failed to present a “strong, unified voice.”

In recounting his past initiatives, Wagh listed extending library timings, negotiating partnerships for case competitions, and helping with inventory systems. He highlighted his leadership roles in clubs such as the fashion club and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. “It’s not about who you like, it’s about who you think is right,” he said, when asked why he thought he was the ideal candidate for General Secretary, acknowledging that while not all of his work has been popular, it has been impactful. He cited examples of students using his initiatives even when they did not support him politically.

A major part of his campaign rests on the idea of approachability. Wagh highlighted that he operates two SIM cards to remain accessible to students, handling queries and concerns across multiple platforms. He stressed that this accessibility would not end with the elections, when asked. “You can find me anywhere,” he said, adding that as an extrovert, he thrives on being present in common spaces—whether at events, in eateries, or simply sitting around campus. “You can come to my room, Bhagirath 3132, anytime,” he remarked to the general student, positioning his openness as the difference from candidates whose visibility fades after election season.

Ultimately, Wagh frames his candidature as both personal and collective—a mix of resilience in the face of setbacks, ambition to reform student governance, and an insistence on being a visible, approachable leader. Whether persistence alone will persuade the student body remains to be seen, but he rests his campaign on the idea that being “right” is more important than being universally liked.