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Chandigarh: After weeks of intense protests, political uproar and campus-wide agitation, the Centre has accepted a key demand of protesting students at Punjab University (PU) by approving the long-pending Senate election schedule. Vice President and PU Chancellor C.P. Radhakrishnan gave his formal approval on November 9, which was officially communicated to PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Renu Vig on Thursday evening, marking a breakthrough in one of the most turbulent phases in the university’s recent history.

The decision triggered jubilant scenes at the protest site, where students celebrated it as a significant victory in democratic resistance. Protesters were seen calling friends, fellow students and leaders to share the news, terming the approval as a “people’s mandate forcing the Centre to retreat”.

Protests That Shook the Campus and the State

The approval comes after nearly a month of sustained protests that witnessed two shutdowns of the varsity, massive student mobilisations and widespread political backlash across Punjab and Chandigarh. The agitation began after the Centre, on October 30, notified a sweeping restructuring of the PU Senate and Syndicate—moves that were widely perceived as an attempt to dilute the university’s democratic character.

The issue snowballed after The Tribune broke the story on November 1, triggering sharp reactions from political parties, student bodies and faculty organisations. Under unrelenting pressure, the Centre issued four different notifications between October 30 and November 7, finally withdrawing the restructuring decision within a week. However, students refused to call off their protest, demanding a formal restoration of the Senate election process, which had been stalled since October 2024.

Multiple anti-BJP outfits, including Nihang organisations of the Quami Insaaf Morcha, backed the agitation. It culminated in a massive youth uprising on November 10, which many termed unprecedented in PU’s post-1966 history.

VC Appeals to Students to Withdraw the Dharna

Soon after receiving the approval letter, Vice-Chancellor Prof Renu Vig visited the protest site and appealed to the students to withdraw their 27-day-old dharna, stating that their core demand—the approval of the Senate election schedule—had now been met.

However, the PU Bachao Morcha, which has been spearheading the protest, said it would take a collective decision on ending the agitation. While welcoming the notification, the Morcha said consultations were underway on remaining demands, including withdrawal of FIRs against protesting students and academic relief for those affected by the shutdowns.

Approved Senate Election Schedule

As per the approved roadmap, the long-delayed Senate elections will now proceed as follows:

• Election for Principals and Staff: September 7, 2026

• Teachers’ Constituencies: September 14, 2026

• Heads and Faculty of Arts Colleges: September 20, 2026

• Registered Graduate Constituency: September 20, 2026

• Vote Counting: September 22, 2026

• Faculty Elections: October 4, 2026

The first formal poll notification is expected to be issued in January 2026.

Political and Institutional Implications

The development is being seen as a vindication of cross-party political mobilisation in Punjab, where virtually all major parties united against the Centre’s move. Political observers describe the Centre’s climb-down as rare and significant, especially in the context of higher education governance.

The approval also means that PU’s pre-overhaul democratic structure stands fully restored, putting an official stamp on the rollback of the contentious restructuring plan.

What Lies Ahead

While the immediate confrontation appears to be easing, the days ahead remain crucial. The PU Bachao Morcha is expected to take a final call on whether to end the dharna. Meanwhile, the university administration is likely to open dialogue on the remaining student demands, including the cancellation of FIRs and restoration of academic normalcy. For now, the Senate’s approval of the election schedule stands as a major morale victory for students—and a reminder of the power of collective, sustained democratic protest in shaping institutional decisions.