Panjab University Senate Elections Back on Track After Months of Protests: Schedule Announced
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After weeks of intense protests at Panjab University in Chandigarh, the Vice President of India has given the green light for the university's senate elections to take place next year. The elections for various constituencies will be held between September 9 and October 4, 2026, following a long-standing demand from protesters.The central government's decision to downsize the senate and abolish its election process had sparked widespread outrage, with protests spreading beyond the university's autonomy to a broader challenge to the state's rights. Following a massive backlash, the government was forced to reverse its decision and restore the decades-old election system in its entirety.The schedule for the Panjab University senate elections has been approved by Vice President CP Radhakrishnan. The elections will be held for 49 seats in the 91-member senate, which is the university's primary decision-making body. The term of the previous senate ended in October 2024.The protesting students have vowed to continue their movement, with several pending demands, including the withdrawal of criminal cases against agitators who clashed with police. The schedule for the elections is as follows:September 7, 2026: Election for Principals of Technical and Professional colleges and staff of such colleges (results on September 9, 2026)September 14, 2026: Election for Professors in teaching departments (results on September 16, 2026)September 14, 2026: Election for Associate and Assistant Professors in teaching departments (results on September 16, 2026)September 20, 2026: Election for Heads of affiliated arts colleges, assistant, associate and full professors, and registered graduates (results on September 22, 2026)October 4, 2026: Election for faculties at Panjab University (results on the same day)The central government's initial attempt to abolish the polls for the Graduates constituency, which chooses 15 members from among PU alumni, sparked widespread opposition from Punjab. The notification was later withdrawn, but the protest continued to seek poll dates, with students, civil society groups, farmers unions, and politicians joining the cause.
