Gaurav Sohal ABVP candidate for prez post, SOPU picks Ardas

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) today named Gaurav Veer Sohal as presidential candidate for the upcoming Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections.

The announcement was made by ABVP national secretary Rahul Rana in the presence of office-bearers and students. In his address, Sohal, a research scholar in the Department of Laws, said his priority was to build an academically enriched and progressive Panjab University.

One of the major highlights of his agenda was holding a placement fair, where students can participate in walk-in interviews and avail of on-the-spot placement opportunities.

The party has promised installation of rooftop solar panels on every academic and administrative building at both north and south campuses, a modern synthetic athletics track, besides installing SOS panic buttons at every 100m on the campus.

The Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) has named Ardas Kaur, a student of the University Institute of Fashion Designing, as its candidate for the post of president.

It’s after nearly 11 years that the party has decided to contest for the president post. Senior SOPU leader Avtar Singh, who was made election in-charge, assured that his objective would be to ensure SOPU regains the president’s post after a long gap.

“I will be working for the welfare of students. Our aim is to promote unity among the students and also emerge as the voice of the students,” said Ardas Kaur said.

NSUI’s last-minute announcement

Just like last year, infighting emerged in the National Student Union of India (NSUI), the student wing if the Congress. One faction announced Parabjot Singh Gill, a student of the Department of Laws, as presidential candidate. Recently, Anurag Dalal, the last PUCSC president who contested independently after rebelling against NSUI, returned to the party fold. He was supporting Sumit Sharma — a student of Disaster Management Department — as presidential candidate.

Sources claimed that Dalal had rejoined the NSUI on the condition of fielding Sharma for the post of president. However, his candidature was reportedly dropped after some objections filed against him got verified.

This led NUSI to announce Parabjot Singh Gill as the party’s face for the PUCSC elections.

“The party agreed on fielding Sumit (Sharma) as candidate for the top post, but it was learnt that his candidature would not get approved. Dalal’s return and the proposal of field Sharma for the top post have the backing of Congress MP Deepender Hooda,” said an NSUI representative, seeking anonymity.

ABVP Front names candidate

Meanwhile, the ABVP Front — an estranged group of the BJP’s student wing — has said Naveen Sharma, a student of Defence Studies, will be contesting the election on behalf of the front.

Making the announcement, front president Ishu Chaudhary said the front’s objective was to provide a conducive environment for students to excel academically at the same time being aware of their rights and responsibilities.

Naveen, who hails from Una in Himachal Pradesh, has previously served as the DR (Department Representative) for the Chemistry Department in 2023.