Intensifying their 52-day-old stir for removal of BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as FTII's chairman, nearly 80 agitating students today left from Pune for Delhi to hold a protest there.

The students have been protesting against Chauhan's appointment since June 12, saying he lacked "vision and artistic credentials" to merit the post at the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India.

Chauhan, known for his role of 'Yudhishtira' in popular tele-serial "Mahabharat", has refused to step down, claiming he is well equipped for the job and that if Centre, which has appointed him tells him to go he will do so.

"We will start our march from Jantar Mantar and head for the Parliament Street and will be joined by activists of other like-minded organisations to express their solidarity on the issue, which involves preservation of the Film and Television Institute of India's artistic and academic excellence and ethos," FTII Students' Association representative Ranjit Nair told PTI today.