Aligarh: In a significant victory for the student community, the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) administration has announced that the university’s Students’ Union elections will be held on November 5, 2026. This decision marks the return of student political representation at the prestigious institution after an eight-year hiatus.
The announcement follows intense and prolonged protests by students, including a 19-day hunger strike, demanding the restoration of the Aligarh Muslim University Students’ Union (AMUSU). Bowing to the demands of the student body, the university administration finally agreed to conduct the polls for the 2026-27 academic session.
In the wake of the student agitation, AMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Naima Khatoon made immediate administrative changes, including the removal of University Proctor Professor Naved Khan. Professor Nafees Ahmad Ansari has been appointed as the new Proctor for a term of two years or until further orders.
The university has swiftly laid out the election schedule. Professor Javed Talib has been appointed as the Chief Election Officer for the AMUSU polls, while Professor Nazia Hasan will serve as the Election Officer for the Women’s College Union.
According to the official schedule, candidates filed their nomination papers on October 29. Polling is slated to take place across the respective faculties on November 5, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Following the conclusion of voting, the counting of ballots will commence at 7:00 PM the same day and will continue until the final results are declared.
The revival of the AMUSU is being viewed as a crucial step towards empowering the youth and providing them with a formal platform to voice their concerns and demands to the university administration. For many students currently enrolled at the campus, this will be their first opportunity to participate in the democratic process within the university walls, as the historic union hall had remained locked since the last elections in 2018.