Why Panjab University poll results have pushed fresh political narrative in Punjab — for BJP and AAP

On a day a senior BJP leader ruled out any alliance for 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) presidential election result on Monday evening added fresh fuel to the political speculations gaining ground in the poll-bound state.

RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) retained the PUCSC president’s post for a second consecutive year, with its candidate Ankit Bidhan defeating Aam Aadmi Party student outfit ASAP’s Adil Brar by 506 votes.

The victory assumed added significance as the Students’ Organisation of India (SOI), the student wing of Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), had extended support to the ABVP candidate just a day before polling.

Bidhan polled 3,143 votes against Brar’s 2,637, while Congress student organisation NSUI’s Gurman Sidhu finished third with 2,263 votes. The ABVP-SOI victory revived discussion about whether the former allies BJP and SAD could eventually find common ground ahead of the 2027 electoral outing.

The SAD had parted ways with the BJP in 2020 after remaining alliance partners for nearly two decades. Panjab University elections are closely watched in Punjab, particularly ahead of Assembly polls, and are often viewed as an indicator of political sentiment among young voters.

The latest verdict has therefore provided the BJP with an opportunity to project the result as evidence of growing acceptance among the state’s youth. Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu described ABVP’s second consecutive presidential victory as an “important political message”, saying it reflected growing trust in the BJP among young people.

“ABVP being elected to the post of President for the second consecutive time at Panjab University is, in itself, an important political message,” Sandhu said. He linked the result to the BJP’s broader narrative of development, employment and opportunities for young people under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon, former state BJP president Sunil Jakhar and other party leaders congratulated Bidhan. Jakhar specifically acknowledged SOI’s role in the victory. “The winds of change have begun to blow from Panjab University.

For the second consecutive time, the ABVP has created history by securing victory in the student elections. SOI played an important role in this victory,” he said, adding that the result reflected “the new thinking of the new generation”.

He also congratulated Bidhan and the ABVP team. Dhillon, in a post on X, said the second consecutive victory on the president’s post showed that “Gen Z had once again made its choice loud and clear”. For the AAP, however, the result presents an uncomfortable political signal.

The party had put considerable organisational effort into the PU elections and appointed its youngest MP, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, as election in-charge for the ASAP campaign. Hayer was not available for comment. The defeat is particularly noteworthy because AAP came to power in Punjab in 2022 riding on an anti-establishment and youth-oriented campaign.

The PU verdict could prompt the party to assess whether the enthusiasm among young voters that contributed to its landslide victory four years ago is showing signs of a shift. For the SAD, the outcome offers visibility at a university that attracts students from across Punjab.

Its student wing’s last-minute tie-up with ABVP, followed by a decisive victory, has inevitably added to the political conversation around the two parties’ future relationship. The Congress, meanwhile, had little to cheer about, with NSUI finishing third.

The result adds to the challenges confronting the party’s student and state-level organisation. Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.

Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.

Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.

Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.

"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.

2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.

"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.

3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025):...