Senate poll protest: Panjab University students to ‘gherao’ BJP offices on December 3

Students of Panjab University on Wednesday (November 26, 2025) announced that they will storm the offices of the BJP in Punjab and Chandigarh on December 3 as they seek to intensify their agitation demanding the announcement of the senate poll schedule.

Students reiterated that the protest will continue until their demands are met.

The protesting students said they would ‘gherao’ the BJP offices with the support of farmer organisations, religious organizations and other student organisations.

Students’ demands

Protesters said that despite Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu’s assurance that the senate polls will be announced soon, no election schedule has been announced, adding that they have been waiting for the election schedule to be announced for the last few days.

PU students under the banner of Panjab University Bachao Morcha had called for a complete shutdown of the university on Wednesday to press for the senate election schedule, which has not happened for over a year.

Student leader Jodh Singh said the protest was held near the vice-chancellor’s office.

Police have made elaborate security arrangements on the campus, including deployment of anti-riot vehicles, to maintain law and order.

However, university officials declared a holiday on Wednesday and closed all offices and departments. Additionally, exams planned to be held on campus that day were also postponed.

On November 10, PU students held a massive rally in which they stormed the entrance gates of the university and scuffled with security personnel.

The protest was initially launched against the Centre’s decision to restructure the senate and union, the governing bodies of Panjab University.

However, after increasing pressure from various political leaders and protesting students, the Ministry of Education on November 7 withdrew its notification dated October 28, announcing changes in the statutes and structure of the Punjab University senate and union.

However, the students refused to end their agitation and pressed the university to announce the senate election schedule.

Student representatives also met the vice-chancellor and informed them that the program had been sent for approval to the Vice-President of India, the provost of the university.

Various political parties from Punjab, including Aam Aadmi Party, Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress, as well as farmer organizations such as Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Morcha, extended support to the student’s protest.