The Student Organisation of India (SOI), the student wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), has extended its support to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections, in a move that has drawn attention ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls.

The alliance was announced a day before polling at Panjab University, with SOI backing ABVP’s presidential candidate Ankit Bidhan. SOI is not contesting the presidential election this year after its candidate’s nomination was rejected, prompting the student organisation to support the ABVP candidate instead. 

SOI backs ABVP candidate

The decision means SOI will mobilise its supporters in favour of ABVP candidates during the campus elections. The development has particular significance because the SAD and BJP, the parent parties of SOI and ABVP respectively, have been the subject of renewed speculation over a possible political understanding in Punjab.

The student alliance does not by itself confirm any decision regarding a formal SAD-BJP alliance for the state elections. However, it has brought renewed attention to the political equations between the two parties. 

Nomination issue led to alliance

SOI’s decision followed the rejection of its presidential candidate’s nomination, preventing the organisation from directly contesting the top post. ABVP, meanwhile, has fielded Ankit Bidhan for president.

The PUCSC election features a four-way contest for the presidential post, with candidates from ABVP, the Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the AAP-backed Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP) and Sath in the fray. Around 16,500 students are eligible to vote in the election.

Voting held amid tight security

Polling for the student council began on Monday, with security arrangements strengthened across the Panjab University campus. Authorities increased checks at the university’s entry gates amid concerns over the movement of outsiders.

The election covers the posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary, besides departmental representatives. Ballot boxes for the office-bearer posts are being taken to the Gymnasium Hall for counting, while results for departmental representatives are displayed in their respective departments. 

SAD-BJP equation in focus

The campus-level cooperation comes at a time when speculation about a possible revival of the SAD-BJP political alliance has intensified in Punjab.

The two parties ended their long-standing alliance in 2020 after the Akali Dal withdrew from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance over the Centre’s farm laws. Recent statements by SAD leaders have again brought the possibility of renewed cooperation into public discussion. 

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia recently said that there was public support for the two parties to work together again, citing Punjab’s position as a border state and the importance of maintaining social harmony. His comments came shortly before the student wings announced their Panjab University understanding. 

Campus politics takes wider significance

Panjab University student elections have traditionally attracted attention beyond the campus because student organisations are often associated with larger political parties and ideological groups.

The SOI-ABVP understanding therefore carries significance beyond the immediate council contest. For now, however, the arrangement remains a student-level electoral alliance and should not be treated as confirmation of a formal SAD-BJP tie-up for the Punjab Assembly elections.

With polling underway, the focus will now shift to whether the support extended by SOI translates into an electoral advantage for the ABVP-led side and what the outcome indicates about the changing dynamics of student politics at Panjab University.

A clash broke out between members of the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at the hostel campus of COEP Technological University in Pune on Friday night, a day before Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ interaction with students in the city.

Police were deployed at the hostel following the confrontation. The ABVP alleged that Congress workers were pressuring female students to register for Rahul Gandhi’s programme. The NSUI, however, made a counter-allegation, claiming that two female students who had expressed support for the event were detained and threatened by ABVP members inside the hostel. The allegations from both sides could not be independently verified.

The incident occurred ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s fourth Chhatron Ki Goonj programme, where he is scheduled to interact with students in Pune on Saturday. The Congress leader has previously held similar events in Kota on June 17, Dehradun on July 17 and Prayagraj on August 8.

During the previous programmes, Rahul Gandhi focused on issues concerning students and young people, including paper leaks, unemployment and the education system. Students and teachers have also been invited to share their experiences and concerns directly from the stage.

Police Deployed At Hostel

Following the confrontation, ABVP members staged a protest outside the hostel and attempted to block the road, according to the report. As tensions increased, police personnel were deployed in large numbers around the campus.

Some members of the student organisations were detained by police following the clash. The situation was brought under control as authorities increased security around the hostel ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s visit.

The incident has added a political dimension to the Congress leader’s planned student outreach programme, with both student organisations making competing claims about what happened inside the hostel.

Rahul’s Previous Student Events

At the August 8 programme in Prayagraj, Rahul Gandhi spoke about what he described as the challenges faced by young people and referred to social media reels as a form of addiction. He also argued that the current system creates obstacles for young people seeking employment.

During his July 17 interaction in Dehradun, Rahul Gandhi raised the issue of examination paper leaks. He said a small number of people involved in paper leaks could affect the prospects of a much larger number of honest students.

At the June 17 event in Kota, Rahul Gandhi said the programme was intended as a platform for students and young people to raise their concerns rather than a conventional political gathering. Education-related stress and problems within the education system were among the issues discussed.

Congress Plans 800 Events

The Congress has indicated that Chhatron Ki Goonj will be expanded across the country. Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said after the party's CWC meeting in Delhi on July 19 that the programme would be organised in around 800 small cities and towns.

Rahul Gandhi is expected to participate in some of these programmes, while other events would provide local students and young people a platform to discuss their concerns.

Patna Programme Was Cancelled

A similar programme planned in Patna on July 15 was cancelled. Congress cited the Model Code of Conduct linked to the Bankipore Assembly by-election as the official reason.

There were also reports of internal discussions over preparations for the event, including concerns about the availability of student data and contact lists. The programme had initially been proposed for July 11 before being rescheduled to July 15.

The Pune event is now drawing attention not only because of Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with students but also because of the confrontation between NSUI and ABVP members ahead of his visit.

More than 100 workers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) were detained in Ranchi on Tuesday during a protest march towards the Jharkhand Assembly, as student groups continued demonstrations over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations and the police action during an earlier protest.

The ABVP members began their procession from the Old Vidhan Sabha area and attempted to march towards the New Vidhan Sabha, a senior police officer said. The detention came a day after police used water cannons and lathis to disperse JPSC and JSSC aspirants during a "Vidhan Sabha gherao" protest in Ranchi.

ABVP March Stopped in Ranchi

The ABVP organised Tuesday's march to highlight the demands being raised by students and competitive examination aspirants in the state.

Police deployed personnel and barricades along the route as the protesters moved towards the Assembly. More than 100 ABVP workers were detained after they attempted to proceed towards the designated security zone, according to officials.

The demonstrations are part of a wider student movement over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by state agencies.

Students Demand Action on Exams

JPSC and JSSC aspirants have been demanding action over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and recruitment procedures.

Among the demands raised by protesters is a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged irregularities. Some protesters have also sought cancellation of the JSSC CGL examination.

Students have accused the state government of failing to fully address their concerns and have continued to press for greater transparency in the recruitment process.

Police Used Water Cannons, Lathis

The latest protest follows Monday's confrontation between police and student protesters in Ranchi.

A group of JPSC and JSSC aspirants had marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly as part of a "Vidhan Sabha gherao" programme. Heavy barricading was put in place to stop the protesters from reaching the Assembly.

When some protesters attempted to cross the barricades, police used water cannons. Clashes subsequently broke out, after which police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

The police action triggered criticism from opposition leaders and intensified the political debate surrounding the student protests.

Rahul Gandhi Condemns Police Action

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi criticised the police action against the protesting students.

He said peaceful student protests should not be met with violence and expressed support for the students' right to raise their concerns.

His remarks also provided fresh ammunition to the political opposition, which has been targeting the Jharkhand government over its handling of the demonstrations.

BJP Targets Hemant Soren Government

The BJP has stepped up its criticism of the Hemant Soren-led government over the protests.

Babulal Marandi, Leader of Opposition in the Jharkhand Assembly, urged the Congress to withdraw its support to the state government if it genuinely backed the demands of protesting students.

The BJP has also demanded action over the alleged police excesses and called for a CBI investigation into the examination-related allegations.

The Congress, meanwhile, has faced criticism from the BJP because it is part of the governing arrangement in Jharkhand while its national leaders have criticised police action against students.

Goa BJP Alleges Congress Double Standards

The political dispute has also spread beyond Jharkhand.

Goa BJP leaders on Tuesday accused the Congress of adopting "double standards" over student protests. BJP MLA and state minister Mauvin Godinho alleged that Congress leaders had strongly backed student protests in other parts of the country while remaining silent over the situation in Jharkhand.

Godinho demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi and questioned the Congress's position on the issue.

Student Movement Continues

The continuing protests have put pressure on the Jharkhand government to respond to concerns raised by examination aspirants.

The immediate focus remains on allegations of irregularities in recruitment examinations, demands for an independent investigation and the conduct of future examinations.

With political parties now intensifying their interventions, the student agitation has evolved into a wider political issue in the state. Further demonstrations and negotiations between student representatives and the government are expected as protesters continue to seek action on their demands.

Jammu University panel recommends dropping Jinnah from MA syllabus

The Departmental Affairs Committee moves to scrap topics on Jinnah, Sir Syed, and Iqbal following student protests; Board of Studies to take final call tomorrow.

The Departmental Affairs Committee (DAC) of Jammu University has recommended the immediate removal of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, and Muhammad Iqbal from the MA Political Science curriculum. The proposal follows intense student-led demonstrations and a growing administrative row over the inclusion of these figures in the academic session.

While the DAC has formalised its recommendation, the final decision rests with the Board of Studies, which is scheduled to convene an online meeting on March 24 to ratify the changes. The development comes at a time when the university faces pressure from student groups alleging that the inclusion of Jinnah’s political thought hurts national sentiments.

Protests trigger curriculum review

The controversy erupted after Jinnah’s political ideologies were introduced as part of the 'Minorities and the Nation' paper. Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a massive protest on Saturday, carrying posters of Jinnah and demanding a syllabus overhaul.

The protestors argued that presenting Jinnah as a leader of minorities, rather than solely in the context of the 'Two-Nation Theory' and Partition, misrepresents historical facts. They maintained that academic freedom should not override national history.

Shift in academic context

Sannak Shrivats, ABVP's Jammu and Kashmir state secretary, pointed out that the objection lies in the "rebranding" of Jinnah within the revised syllabus. Previously, Jinnah was studied through the lens of Partition and the communal divide.

Under the new 2025 draft, however, he was positioned as a significant minority thinker. Shrivats stated that the organisation would not accept a narrative that provides a platform for the architect of India’s partition under the guise of minority studies.

Department defends UGC standards

Baljeet Singh Maan, Head of the Political Science Department, initially defended the inclusion of these thinkers, stating the curriculum was designed from a strictly academic perspective. He noted that the topics aligned with University Grants Commission (UGC) standards and national curriculum frameworks.

According to Maan, the objective was to expose postgraduate students to a variety of political thoughts to foster critical analysis. However, following the escalating protests, the university administration constituted a committee to review the syllabus, leading to the current recommendation for removal.

Political blame game begins

The issue has quickly taken a political turn, with the Congress party accusing the administration of creating a "deliberate controversy." JKPCC General Secretary Namrata Sharma noted that the draft syllabus, which also includes Savarkar and Golwalkar, has been in place for nearly a year.

"This curriculum was prepared in 2025 and remained unchallenged for months. Raising it now suggests an attempt to polarise the academic environment," Sharma said. She questioned the timing of the protests, suggesting that the sudden friction was politically motivated.

History of campus friction

Jammu University’s Political Science department is no stranger to ideological clashes. The current row echoes a 2018 incident where a professor faced severe backlash and university action after a video surfaced showing him referring to Bhagat Singh in a controversial light.

The recurring nature of these disputes highlights the sensitive balance between academic inquiry and regional political sentiments. Observers noted that the university administration is now treading cautiously to avoid further law-and-order disruptions on campus.

Final decision expected tomorrow

All eyes are now on the Board of Studies meeting on Tuesday. The board will decide whether to uphold the DAC’s recommendation or maintain the current academic structure. This decision is expected to set a precedent for how sensitive historical figures are treated in higher education across the region.

The outcome of tomorrow's meet will likely impact the academic calendar for the current semester. Government updates on the matter are expected shortly after the board concludes its deliberations, as this remains a high-priority trending news India story.