KSU proposes the idea of student activism based on progressive thought, secular vision and democratic action. KSU entered the center stage of student politics in Kerala with the famous "Orana Samaram", a strike for travel concessions for students in buses and boats of the state.The agitation was successful, and the government had to relent to the demands of KSU. From then onwards, the growth of KS
U was tremendous. KSU was only short lived as the rise of SFI (current largest student organisation in Kerala) slowly weakened it and by the late 90s it was over shadowed by SFI in the major universities of Kerala. The communist Government led by E. Namboodiripad, which was the first democratically elected communist government in the world, was suspended from office in 1959 by the congress led central government. Various strikes and agitations were held by KSU against the state government and brought the educational system of the state to a halt by continuously disrupting the classes. Many of its founder leaders like A.K. Antony, Vayalar Ravi, Oommen Chandy, A.C.Jose, V.M.Sudheeran and M.R.Prasad went up the ladder of INC . It injected fresh blood into the Congress party and a whole generation of new leaders entered into the political arena, a lot of them M.P.s, M.L.A.s and even two Chief Ministers. The NSUI was formed at the national level taking inspiration from KSU in Kerala and the 'Chhatra parishad' in West Bengal. But KSU suffered some setbacks after the emergency period (1975–77) and consequent split in the Congress party. By then, factionalism in the Congress peeped into this organization also, which made it somewhat weak. And by this time its student support base in campuses had largely eroded and other student organisations had started to emerge in the horizon. The Kerala Students' Union, or KSU as it is commonly known, is the premier student organization in the state of Kerala. Right from its inception in 1957, it played a leading role in giving the student community of the state a new vision, outlook and a platform for creative academic and social interventions. KSU entered the center stage of student politics in Kerala with the famous "Orana Samaram", a strike for travel concessions for students in buses and boats owned by the state. the main reasons for this growth were the private college managements had extended their support to the KSU. They were eager to encourage the KSU against the KSF which was antimanagement in its outlook. Thus the students who were keen to please the powerful managements found an opportunity for it by supporting the KSU. Secondly, the powerful communities of Kerala like the Nairs and Christians too supported the Kerala Students Union. They felt threatened by the utterances of the radical KSF leaders who were out to destroy the managers' stronghold on the educational institutions. So the KSU could grow in the suitable climate of anticommunist feeling which was widespread during the liberation struggle. Thirdly, the newspapers of Kerala played a crucial role to suit the interests of the KSU. The KSU leaders and their statements were given the pride of place by them in these newspapers. In other words, most of the newspapers promoted the interests of the KSU. Though KSU regularly took up academic issues and put up agitations to achieve the rights of students, its effect was not restricted to the academic field alone. It is perhaps the first student movement in the country, which could overthrow a ruling state government. The communist regime of EMS was thrown out of office through the agitations and relentless efforts of KSU in alliance with minority religions in 1960. . Many of its former leaders like A.K. Antony, Vayalar Ravi, Oommen Chandy, A.C.Jose, V.M.Sudheeran, G.Karthikeyan and Ramesh Chennithala are still enjoying power. KSU injected fresh blood into the Congress party and a whole generation of new leaders entered into the political arena, a lot of them to become M.P.s, M.L.A.s and even Chief Ministers. By then, factionalism in the Congress party peeped into this organization also, which weakened KSU.There on wards KSU lost support from students and lost most university elections. Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi as the AICC general secretary in charge of NSUI, KSU conducted a full-fledged organizational election in 2009 to restore internal democracy.
