Chandigarh, August 31: Chandigarh Congress has sought explanations from two city leaders over alleged anti-party activities in the ongoing Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) elections, following a split among National Students Union of India (NSUI) hopefuls.
Sources said NSUI election in charge for Panjab University, Dilip Choudhary, sent a letter to Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky, asking for clarifications regarding the role of Sachin Galav, a sitting Municipal Corporation councillor, and former Chandigarh Youth Congress president Manoj Lubana. Both leaders are accused of fielding candidates independently, separate from NSUI’s official nominee for the PUCSC president post. Choudhary also requested an action taken report on the matter.
Speaking on the issue, HS Lucky noted, “Both have given me their version that they are not doing anything to harm the party’s interests in PU’s polls. I have given them a final warning and will initiate action if this happens again.”
Sources said Galav claimed he is not even in Chandigarh and is focused on work in his ward. “Individuals may be using my name in the PU polls, but I have no role in it,” he reportedly said. Galav had served as NSUI PU president when Jatinder Singh won the 2023–24 presidential post.
Lubana provided a similar response, asserting he has no involvement in the PU polls and even requested the party post him elsewhere if necessary.
However, political observers note that a new student party, Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA), was formed by two former NSUI leaders who were denied tickets. The party’s social media page, previously managed by NSUI, still retains old posts. Last year, internal splits contributed to NSUI’s poor performance: presidential candidate Rahul Nain secured only 501 votes, while rebel NSUI candidate Anurag Dalal won 3,433 votes.
Tensions are also surfacing in the Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP). Senior leaders have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the selection of Mankirat as their presidential candidate. While a rally was held on Saturday, several senior ASAP leaders who had remained absent in recent days were seen campaigning. A senior leader remarked, “Everyone is not happy with Mankirat’s selection, and there is doubt about his chances of winning.”
The internal discord could benefit Gaurav Veer Sohal of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), as the organization has no splits over his candidacy. Observers say cross-voting is likely to favor him, given his strong presence on campus.
Meanwhile, two new alliances have been announced for the PUCSC polls. One SOPU faction, contesting for the president post, has joined forces with Hindustan Student Association (HSA), which is fielding candidates for the general secretary position. This sets up a contest between SOPU factions themselves, with Abhishek Dagar also contesting for the general secretary post.
The evolving dynamics in Chandigarh’s student politics indicate a fragmented yet fiercely contested electoral landscape at Panjab University, with multiple factions and alliances vying for key posts.
