Archive · 1 Sep 2026
ABVP Retains Panjab University Presidency With SOI Support
Students at Panjab University voted to choose their student council leaders.
Ankit Bidhan from ABVP won the president’s job for the second year in a row.
He received 3,149 votes, while Aadil Brar of ASAP received 2,637.
SOI supported ABVP after its own candidate was not allowed to contest.
Other groups won the vice-president, secretary and joint-secretary positions.
This means the council will have leaders from several different student organisations.
Some students protested, saying gates at the law department were closed during voting.
University officials said they would examine CCTV footage and help eligible students who arrived on time vote.
Ankit Bidhan of ABVP won the PUCSC presidency with 3,149 votes, defeating ASAP’s Aadil Brar by 512 votes.
ABVP retained the presidency for a second consecutive term after winning it for the first time last year.
SOI backed ABVP after its candidate’s candidature was rejected, becoming a significant factor in the result.
Armaan Singh Bhinder, Dhyan Singh and Vishal Bamal won the vice-president, secretary and joint-secretary posts respectively.
Around 16,500 students were eligible to vote, while protests over alleged access restrictions disrupted polling at the Department of Laws.
- Who
- Ankit Bidhan of the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad won the presidency; Aadil Brar of ASAP was the runner-up. Candidates from NSUI and Sath also contested.
- What
- ABVP retained the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council presidency for a second consecutive term, while rival groups won the other three executive posts.
- When
- The election and result were reported on Monday, August 31. Articles said polling ran from about 9:00 or 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.
- Where
- Panjab University in Chandigarh, including polling at the Department of Laws and counting at the Gymnasium Hall.
- Why
- ABVP attributed its victory to work carried out during the previous year. SOI’s last-minute backing after its candidature was rejected was also described as an important factor.
ABVP and University Administration
Student Protesters and Rival Groups
Reason for ABVP’s victory
ABVP and University Administration
Bidhan attributed the result to ABVP’s work over the previous year. BJP leaders described it as evidence of student confidence and changing views among young people.
Student Protesters and Rival Groups
The reports highlighted SOI’s last-minute support as a crucial factor that consolidated support behind ABVP after SOI’s candidate was rejected.
Polling access at the law department
ABVP and University Administration
Dean Student Welfare Prof. Yogesh Rawal said CCTV footage would be reviewed and that eligible students who reached campus on time would be allowed to vote.
Student Protesters and Rival Groups
Protesting students alleged that department gates were closed and reopened during voting, preventing some students from entering. One student also alleged forcible detention and unfair pressure from security personnel.
Meaning of the council result
ABVP and University Administration
ABVP supporters celebrated retaining the presidency, which the reports described as the organisation’s most important victory.
Student Protesters and Rival Groups
The remaining posts went to candidates from rival or independent groups, creating a divided council that will require cooperation on student issues.
- President-elect
- Ankit Bidhan, ABVP
- Presidential votes
- Bidhan received 3,149 votes; Aadil Brar received 2,637.
- Winning margin
- 512 votes
- Other executive winners
- Armaan Singh Bhinder won vice-president, Dhyan Singh won secretary and Vishal Bamal won joint secretary.
- Electorate
- Approximately 16,500 Panjab University students were eligible to vote.
- Polling arrangements
- Around 190 polling booths were set up; reports placed voting hours between approximately 9:00 or 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
- Presidential candidates
- Ankit Bidhan, Aadil Brar, Gurnam Singh Sidhu and Darshpreet Singh contested the presidency.
- Polling dispute
- Students alleged that gates at the Department of Laws were repeatedly closed; the Dean Student Welfare said CCTV footage would be examined.
