Patna University Student Union Elections: 20,000 Students to Vote, Strict New Rules Introduced to Curb Excess Spending and Noise

Patna: Ahead of the Patna University Student Union (PUSU) elections 2026, the university administration has issued the final voter list, making nearly 20,000 students eligible to cast their votes and elect student representatives on February 28.

Patna University’s Chief Election Officer Shankar Kumar stated that the voter list will also be uploaded on the university’s official website for students’ convenience. He added that the draft voter list was released on February 6, and correction requests were accepted between February 7 and February 9.

Nomination Forms Available Till February 14

Nomination forms for the elections, priced at ₹50 per form, will be available from 10 am on February 11 to 3 pm on February 14. Along with the forms, students will also receive a 16-page booklet containing the election code of conduct and general guidelines.

During the same period, candidates will be able to obtain a certificate from the Controller of Examinations confirming that they are not in a “non-academic year” status.

Elections for Five Key Posts and 24 Councillors

Voting on February 28 will be held for the five major central panel posts — President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Joint Secretary and Treasurer. In addition, elections will also take place for 24 councillor posts representing different constituent colleges and departments.

The distribution of councillor seats includes:

• Patna Women’s College (5)
• Magadh Women’s College (3)
• BN College (2)
• Patna College (2)
• Patna Science College (2)
• Commerce College (1)
• Patna Law College (1)
• Women’s Training College (1)
• Patna Training College (1)
• College of Arts and Crafts (1)
• Faculty of Social Sciences (2)
• Faculty of Humanities (1)
• Faculty of Science (1)
• Faculty of Commerce, Law and Education (1)

Officials said that the ratio will remain nearly one councillor per 1,000 students.

Strict Ban on Loudspeakers, Vehicles, Animals and Printed Posters

The university has introduced several strict measures to ensure fair elections and prevent unnecessary extravagance.

As per the new code of conduct:

• Use of loudspeakers is completely prohibited
• No vehicles will be allowed for campaigning
• Use of animals in election activities is strictly banned
• Extravagant spending is not permitted
• Direct involvement of political parties is prohibited

Candidates will not be allowed to use printed posters, pamphlets or any other printed campaign material. Only handmade posters and photocopies will be permitted.

A senior university official said that no procession or public gathering can be organised without prior written permission from the Proctor or the concerned Principal.

Code of Conduct Comes Into Force

With the announcement of the election schedule by the Chief Patron of PUSU and Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof. Namita Singh, the election code of conduct has officially come into effect, and the previous student union has been dissolved.

The university stated that elections are being conducted before the completion of the union’s one-year tenure in order to establish a system of holding student elections on time in the future.

Notably, PUSU elections were suspended for several years after 1984 due to fears of violence and were resumed only in 2012. After another long gap, elections were held again in 2018. In 2025, elections were conducted after more than two years.

Candidates Must Maintain Expense Records

During campaigning, candidates and their supporters must carry certified identity cards issued by the institution or election office. They will also be required to maintain proper accounts of all expenses and submit them for verification within a stipulated two-week period.

Candidates are permitted to use funds only through voluntary contributions from the student community and not from any other external sources.

Previous Election Highlights

In the last PUSU election, women candidates won three out of the five central panel posts. The ABVP-backed candidate secured the President’s post, while independent candidates won the Vice-President and General Secretary positions.

With strict restrictions and high student participation expected, the upcoming PUSU elections are anticipated to be highly competitive.