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Anoushka Kale has been elected president of the University of Cambridge's reputable Cambridge Union Society for the Easter term following an unquestionable election. The twenty year-old British Indian student will become the 1st female Union president since the previous Easter term. She is also the fourth candidate in 5 elections to triumph the presidency unopposed.
Ms. Kale is studying English Literature at Sidney Sussex College at Cambridge, London. She is one of the few South Asian heritage female students to hold such a significant position. Serving as the society's Debates Officer, she campaigned on a platform whose primary focus was on strengthening connections with cultural societies at the university, such as the Indian Society.
The president-elect got 126 votes in the uncontested election for the Easter 2025 term, with 25 members voting to re-open the nominations. Her campaign focused on improving "diversity and access" at the Union, pledging to amplify "ties with cultural and access-based societies" and lower ticket costs for access, according to a news report.
Ms. Kale's proposals are in alignment with the Cambridge Union's decision previously this year to increase membership fees due to financial challenges and rising "upkeep costs" of its Grade-II listed heritage building. After her victory, Ms. Kale stated Varsity, "I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have been elected President of the Cambridge Union Society for Easter 2025 and I am grateful for the support of the membership."
She elaborated, "For my term, I will focus on expanding diversity and access at the Union by collaborating more with cultural groups, such as the university's India Society. I am also passionate about continuing to host international speakers and global debate topics, as I did as Debates Officer."
Ms. Kale further said that her enthusiasm about fulfilling her manifesto promises, "particularly expanding diversity through society collaborations and lowering access tickets for the summer garden party."
"A key element of my platform was delivering more for members, which I will prioritize throughout my term with a members' motion and debate dinner ballots. Bringing fresh faces onto committees and increasing membership engagement is essential to making our elections more competitive, which I am committed to pushing for," she added in the further conversation.