BENGALURU, April 27 -- The Karnataka government's move to restore student union elections has set off a familiar mix of enthusiasm and unease, reopening questions about representation, political influence and the memory of campus unrest that once led to the system's dismantling over three decades ago.

At a meeting in Bengaluru on Wednesday, ministers sat across the table from student leaders representing rival ideologies, many of whom agreed on at least one point: elections should return, and soon.

The government indicated that polls would be conducted in line with the recommendations of the JM Lyngdoh Committee, a framework designed to regulate campus elections, though with adjustments to reflect current conditions. "Elections will be ...