Punjab BJP leaders upbeat over PU poll win

The historic win has energised the BJP leadership across the region, who believe it could provide a much-needed fillip to the BJP’s ambition of forming a government in Punjab in 2027. Gaurav hails from Gill village in Ludhiana and has completed his college from SCD, Ludhiana. The university has a good share of Punjabi students and Gaurav belongs to a Punjabi jatt family. “It’s a new awakening for Punjab, as the young generation is accepting the good work of the BJP,” said Vineet Joshi, a Punjab BJP leader. Elated over the victory, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar said, “ABVP has scripted history by winning the election for the presidentship of Punjab University Students’ Council for the first time in 48 years.” Ravneet Bittu, a senior BJP leader, hailed the victory as a sign of the party’s growing popularity in the region. “This could be the beginning of the BJP’s electoral success,” he said.

However, Prof Manjit Singh, a political analyst, cautioned against drawing sweeping conclusions. “The result doesn’t mean it will have an impact on Punjab elections. There are different factors at play. This time, student votes were divided among several groups, and the voter turnout was also a factor,” he said.

Long wait ends

It was in 1973 that ABVP’s Surinder Mohan Kant was elected as PUCSC secretary, followed by election of Kalidas Batish of the outfit, recalls former Chandigarh MP and Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain, who also held the same post in 1975. While ABVP has won the presidential post for the first time, the group was part of the PUCSC—mainly with the support of allies.

After a voting pattern was introduced for electing the PUCSC election, Devesh Moudgil, former Chandigarh Mayor, had won the post of joint secretary in 1999, followed by election of Mukla Sharma as vice-president and Vivek Chauhan as secretary. In 2003, ABVP contested the PUCSC polls alone and their presidential candidate Saurabh Joshi, now councillor in Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, lost by 250 votes to Malwinder Kang, now MP from Anandpur Sahib.

Last year, while the ABVP presidential candidate trailed at third spot, the group managed to enter the council after 12 years by winning the joint secretary’s post without an alliance.