The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has secured victory in the Panjab University (PU) student union elections. Ankit Bidhan has been elected president, hoisting the saffron flag by defeating Adil Barar of the Aam Aadmi Party’s student wing, ASAP.
Ankit Bidhan hails from Pegan village in Jind. Jind is known as the political capital of Haryana; whether for Assembly or Lok Sabha elections, major parties typically launch their campaigns by holding rallies there. After completing his Class 12 education at DAV School in Jind, Ankit moved to Chandigarh. He pursued his LLB and LLM degrees and is currently a PhD scholar. He has been at Panjab University for six years, where he joined the ABVP, built a strong rapport with the student body, and has now ascended to the top leadership role at the university.
Ankit Bidhan’s father is a former director of the Jind Sugar Mill and currently runs a pipe manufacturing factory in the village. His mother is a homemaker. Ankit’s elder brother, Sumit, works as a clerk in the Education Department, while his elder sister, Neeru, is married.
Ankit says: “This is not my victory, but a victory for Gen Z”
Ankit Bidhan described his win as a victory for the entire Gen Z. He stated that this result proves the acceptance of the ABVP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the Gen Z demographic.
He noted that this was the first student union election held at a university following the protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, making the PU election particularly significant for the students.
He added that this victory reflects his past track record; students have placed their trust in his work and active engagement. Fulfilling all the promises made in the election manifesto will now be his top priority.
Questions raised over Ankit’s eligibility and nomination
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has threatened to move the High Court regarding Ankit Bidhan’s eligibility and nomination. Amritpal Singh Sukhanand, an AAP MLA and the party’s PU election in-charge, has alleged that six discrepancies have surfaced regarding Ankit’s nomination, yet it has not been cancelled.
Sukhanand alleged that Ankit had previously been banned by PU for two years after being caught cheating. He also claimed that an assault case involving Ankit had been registered in Sector 11.
He further demanded an inquiry into the validity of Ankit’s degree from Sabarmati University, questioning how the nomination was accepted if the candidate was ineligible to contest under university rules. He has warned that he would approach the High Court over this matter.
