After weeks of entrenched protest at Panjab University in Chandigarh, the Vice President of India, as the PU chancellor, has approved the dates for elections to the PU senate to be held next year.
The elections for various constituencies of the senate, which is PU's primary decision-making body, will be held between September 9 and October 4, 2026, officials said on Thursday.
This was a main pending demand of the protesters after the central government rolled back its decision to downsize the senate and abolish much of its election process. PM Narendra Modi's government had to restore the decades-old election system fully after massive protests went beyond the issue of PU's autonomy alone, and saw it as a "challenge to the state's rights".
PU officials said on Thursday that the schedule sent by the university has been approved by Vice President CP Radhakrishnan.
The protesting students, however, said their movement would continue for some pending demands. These demands include withdrawal of criminal cases against agitators who clashed with police.
Schedule for Panjab University senate elections
{{/usCountry}}The protesting students, however, said their movement would continue for some pending demands. These demands include withdrawal of criminal cases against agitators who clashed with police.
Schedule for Panjab University senate elections
{{/usCountry}}The senate has 91 members and elections are held for 49 seats. The term of the previous senate ended in October of 2024. The Centre then tried to do away with the poll process, though that move has since been taken back.
Now, the PU senate election schedule is as follows:
- For the constituency ‘Principals of Technical and Professional colleges and staff of such colleges from amongst themselves’, the date of election is September 7, 2026; results on September 9, 2026.
- Professors in teaching departments of the university — Election on September 14, 2026; results on the 16th.
- Associate and Assistant Professors in teaching departments of the university: Election on September 14, 2026; results on the 16th.
- Heads of affiliated arts colleges; assistant, associate and full professors of affiliated arts colleges; and registered graduates — Elections on September 20, 2026, results on the 22nd.
- Faculties at Panjab University, Chandigarh: Election & results on October 4, 2026.
How Centre tried to end polls, had to backtrack
In a notification of October 28, 2025, the central government had reduced the number of senators and abolished polls for the Graduates constituency. This constituency chooses 15 members from among PU alumni, for which polls are held in Punjab, Chandigarh, and some neighbouring states.
This move saw widespread political opposition from Punjab, as this was seen as “yet another assault on Punjab's autonomy and its right over Chandigarh”. Students who were already protesting for a senate poll schedule got further agitated at the near-abolition of the system. Civil society groups and farmers unions from Punjab joined them, as did politicians including CM Bhagwant Mann.
The Centre’s notification was thus withdrawn on November 7, but the protest continued to seek poll dates.
A university shutdown on November 10 had spelt chaos not only on campus but across the Chandigarh region. Protesters, mainly from Punjab, broke through the university gates and clashed with police. A second shutdown call of November 26 remained altogether peaceful, though the university had to defer some exams.
(with inputs from Aashi Shekhar, Chandigarh)