ABVP wins Panjab University polls with Akali Dal’s student wing support

Chandigarh, Aug 31 (IANS) Believing it the victory of the entire Gen Z, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) candidate Ankit Bidhan on Monday won the presidential post of the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council elections in a four-cornered contest with a margin of over 500 votes.

A day before the polling, the Student Organisation of India (SOI), the student wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), extended its support to the ABVP. In a first in the history of Panjab University, the ABVP won the top post in the students’ council election for the second time in a row.

PUDF’s Armaan Singh Bhinder won the Vice-President post, while Independent candidates Dhyan Singh and Vishal Bamal won the Secretary and Joint Secretary posts, respectively. A total of 16 candidates contested the election.

For the top post, the contest was among Gurman Singh Sidhu of the Congress’ student wing, the NSUI, Aadil Bir Singh of the AAP-backed ASAP, Ankit Bidhan and Darshpreet Singh of Sath.

Responding to the victory in the top post, Senior BJP leader B L Santosh wrote on X, “ABVP’s Sri Ankit Bidhan wins the Punjab University Student Union President’s elections convincingly, second time in a row. SOI also supported the ABVP nominee in the last 48 hours. Congratulations to Sri Ankit Bidhan and @ABVPVoice for the stupendous victory.”

“This is not my victory alone; it is the victory of the entire Gen Z,” said Bidhan. He said the result showed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ABVP have a place in the hearts of the younger generation.

Around 16,500 students were eligible to cast votes, including 9,000 women voters and one transgender voter. The voter count increased by 344 compared to last year’s.

Abhiraj Singh won the president’s post at GGDSD College, Sector 32, while Parminder Singh won the president’s post at Post Graduate Government College, Sector 46.

During polling, students protested and claimed they did not get enough time to cast their votes. Scuffles were also reported between students and police personnel at a polling station.

Outgoing Panjab University ABVP President Gaurav Veer Singh Sohal said the organisation had approached the authorities seeking an extension of polling time. He said voter turnout was expected to be lower because of the long weekend.

–IANS

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