ABVP retains Panjab University president's post, SOI backing fuels Akali-BJP buzz

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has won the Panjab University Students’ Council president’s post for the second consecutive year, strengthening its position on campus and triggering fresh political speculation in Punjab.

ABVP candidate Ankit Bidhan secured 3,149 votes to defeat AAP-linked ASAP candidate Adil Brar, who polled 2,637 votes. NSUI-backed candidate Gurman Singh Sidhu finished third with 2,263 votes.

The victory marks ABVP’s second straight win for the top post after it broke the longstanding dominance of Congress-backed NSUI and regional student organisations last year.

ABVP WINS PRESIDENT’S POST AGAIN

The results, however, do not indicate a complete ABVP sweep. The three other key posts went to candidates backed by rival groups.

Panjab University election result:

• President: Ankit Bidhan — ABVP
• Vice-president: Armaan Singh Bhinder — ASAP
• Secretary: Dhyan Singh (Sameer) — Independent, NSUI-backed
• Joint secretary: Vishal Bamal — Independent, ASAP-backed alliance

The split verdict suggests that the campus electorate remains divided, even as ABVP has consolidated its hold over the most prominent presidential position.

SOI SUPPORT FUELS AKALI-BJP BUZZ

The biggest political talking point was the decision by the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) student wing, Student Organisation of India (SOI), to support Bidhan.

SOI has traditionally contested the Panjab University elections independently. This year, however, its presidential candidate’s nomination was rejected on technical grounds. The organisation subsequently backed the ABVP candidate.

The move has revived speculation about a possible thaw between the SAD and BJP ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

The BJP and SAD were longtime allies before their ties deteriorated over the 2020 farm laws, eventually leading to the alliance’s collapse. However, it would be premature to view the Panjab University arrangement as evidence of a formal alliance revival. SOI’s decision came after its own candidate was ruled out, and it remains unclear whether the understanding will extend beyond student politics.

IS PU TURNING INTO A ‘SAFFRON CAMPUS’?

Panjab University has traditionally been a stronghold for NSUI and regional student organisations, including SOPU. ABVP’s consecutive victories indicate that its influence has grown significantly on a campus where it was once considered a weaker force.

Yet calling the university a complete “saffron campus” would be an overstatement. An NSUI-backed independent won the secretary’s post, while ASAP-backed candidates took the vice-president and joint secretary positions.

The result therefore points to a stronger ABVP presence rather than a complete takeover.

DUSU POLLS NEXT: A WARNING FOR NSUI?

The Panjab University result also comes ahead of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections on September 18. For NSUI, the result could be a concern, with its supported candidate finishing third while ABVP retained the top post. However, the political dynamics at the two universities are different, and the PU result cannot be used to predict the DUSU outcome.

The result nevertheless gives ABVP an opportunity to project its victory as evidence of continued support among young voters and Gen Z, while NSUI will have to argue that the Punjab University verdict does not reflect the wider student community.

With the 2027 Punjab polls approaching, the election carries three broader messages: ABVP has established a stronger foothold at Panjab University; SOI’s backing has revived discussion around a possible BJP-SAD rapprochement; and the BJP has gained a fresh opportunity to claim that its support among young voters remains intact despite recent student protests and education-related controversies.

The key question is whether ABVP’s growing influence will remain confined to the Chandigarh campus or become part of a wider trend in student politics.