Panjab University: Vice President approves senate poll schedule, students say will end stir on Friday

CHANDIGARH: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, who is the chancellor of the Panjab University, on Thursday approved the schedule of its senate election, according to a communication from the vice president's secretariat. According to the proposed schedule, the election will be conducted from September 7, 2026, to October 4, 2026.

"I am directed to convey that Hon'ble Vice-President of India and Chancellor Panjab University has approved the schedule of Senate Elections as proposed in the aforementioned letter," read the communication from the VP's office to PU Vice Chancellor Renu Vig, who had written to the chancellor, seeking approval for the senate poll schedule. The development comes amid nearly a month-long vociferous protests by students demanding the announcement of the schedule for the senate poll that has not been held for more than a year.

Following the announcement, scenes of celebration were witnessed on the PU campus. PU students, who have been protesting and pressing for the election schedule, hailed it as a "victory" of their "struggle".

Panjab University protests

Vig visited the protest site and asked the students to end their strike as their primary demand had been met. Avtar Singh of the PU Bachao Morcha, which led the protest, said the Vice Chancellor formally handed over the communication received from the Vice President's Secretariat. "We will end the dharna on Friday after holding a victory march in the PU," he said.

As per the election schedule, the election for principals and staff will be held on September 7, 2026; professors and associate professors of teaching departments on September 14; heads and faculty of arts colleges on September 20; registered graduate constituency on September 20; and faculty elections on October 4.

Several political parties from Punjab, including the Aam Aadmi Party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, and farmers' and religious bodies had extended their support to the students' agitation. They commended the students for the "victory." Congress MLA Pargat Singh said it was a "victory for the students and the people of Punjab". In a post on X, Union Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, said, "...the long pending matter related to Panjab University Senate elections has been approved by the Honorable Vice President of India".

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PU: Victory of students

"I also assure the people of Punjab that the BJP and the Central Government will never allow injustice to be done to Punjab. Today's step is proof that the honor, rights and participation of Punjab are paramount for us," Bittu said in his post. AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang, while reacting to the development, said, "Heartfelt congratulations to the resilient students, teachers, faculty, and the indomitable people of Punjab who stood unbreakable in the face of relentless adversity. Better late than never — justice has finally prevailed".

"The Centre sought to trample its autonomy, but Punjab's united, uncompromising resistance has triumphed," Kang said in a post on X. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring termed the development as a "resounding victory for the students and every Punjabi."

"Your relentless struggle forced the @ NarendraModi government to back down. Punjab has spoken loud and clear: we will not be silenced!!," Warring said in a post on X.

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Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, in his congratulatory post, said, "This victory has been made possible by the strength of unity demonstrated by students through a peaceful democratic struggle." When an entire state rises as one, no force on earth can silence its sovereign voice, Badal said in a post on X, while adding "today, democracy stands restored on the sacred soil of Punjab".

The initial phase of the protest was launched against the Centre's decision to restructure Panjab University's governing bodies — the senate and the syndicate. However, the Ministry of Education, on November 7, withdrew its October 28 notification for changing the constitution and composition of the bodies, following mounting pressure from various political leaders and protesting students.

The students, however, refused to end their agitation and said that they would do so if a schedule for the senate election was announced.