Panjab University's ‘mixed’ student council aims to rise above politics

With the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) poll throwing up a ‘mixed house’, it remains to be seen if the office-bearers can work together after sinking political differences or will it be just another regular one-year term of the council.

It was in 2019 when the NSUI bagged three posts in the council. In 2022, when the elections were held after a two-year break due to Covid, the same group had bagged two posts. On both occasions, the group did not win presidential post. Since then, no party has won more than one seat in the election and the council has remained a ‘mixed house’.

Last year, the PUCSC witnessed representatives from four different parties. Infighting reigned supreme when allegations were levelled regarding the disbursement of funds for hosting cultural events. This year, while the PUCSC president is from ABVP, vice-president is from Sath outfit, secretary belongs to SOPU and joint secretary post is won by an independent candidate.

“I f the aim is to ensure the welfare of students, the PUCSC is one group. It doesn’t matter if we come from different parties. The aim is to stand for the students’ right and I will act as a PUCSC president and not representative of a particular party,” said Gaurav Veer Sohal, who became the first ever council president from the BJP-backed ABVP.

Newly elected vice-president Ashmeet Singh is from Sath — a discussion in 2019 that turned into a political group in 2022 — and reveres deceased human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Sath also bats for working towards the students’ rights.

“If they (BJP) try to force their agenda on the campus, we will not tolerate it. We are standing for student-related issues. They can’t change the university’s past and its importance for Punjab. We also call for the senate polls, as due to its absence the Vice-Chancellor has all rights to take decisions,” said Ashmeet. Sath achieved a breakthrough in 2023, when Ranmeekjot Kaur won the vice-president post. However, she ended her ties with the party over ideological differences.

Being an independent candidate, joint secretary Mohit Manderana also seconds thoughts of the council members. “The university is for the students and the work should be done keeping in mind the sole motive of the stakeholders’ interest. There’s no place for any political ideology, but only for students’ welfare. The mixed house has an advantage of having a diversity of schemes,” said Manderana.

The results also hold significance for the Students’ Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU), one of the oldest groups, which returned to the council after almost 13 years.

Abhishek Dagar, the new secretary of the PUCSC, also bats for unity in the council. “I am thankful to the students, who picked me over the representative of any political group. Since the voters have revived SOPU, I owe it to them. Being in the PUCSC, our aim shall be to solve the students’ problem,” said Dagar.

After two weeks of hectic activity for the PUCSC election, the campus wore a deserted look today as the university is closed till September 6.

The election concluded yesterday after grand celebrations at the Student Centre.