NSUI holds firm in Patna University Students’ Union poll

In a late evening declaration of results by the Patna University Students Union (PUSU) on Saturday (February 28, 2026), the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress Party, occupied the fort after a long time and won the posts of president and general secretary.

The BJP’s student wing, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), held the posts of joint secretary and treasurer.

However, the voting percentage this time was abysmally low at 37.84%, while last year (2025) it was 45.25%. There were some incidents of violence and fire on campus on election day, but police were present on campus to ensure the elections were conducted peacefully.

“It was due to following strict poll guidelines and disinterest, dull and docile approach of students towards campus elections that the voting percentage fell by almost 7% this time,” Chief Electoral Officer and Professor of Patna Science College Shankar Kumar said. The Hindu.

In 1980, NSUI candidate Anil Sharma and in 1984 Shambhu Sharma had won the post of university presidents respectively.

NSUI candidate Shantanu Shekhar and Khushi Kumari on Saturday (February 28, 2026) assumed the posts of president and general secretary after a long time. “Though the elections were not held on political party lines, it is time for the BJP to introspect as the party is in power in the state in coalition with other parties and has all the MLAs of Patna city area,” said senior journalist from Patna Manish Kumar.

In the ruling NDA, the BJP is in power in Bihar along with JD-U and other allies and earlier its several-time young party MLA from Bankipore constituency Patna Nitin Nabin has shown keen interest in the PUSU elections.

Mr Nabin, 45, was elected national president of the party this year in January 2026.

Earlier, several well-known political personalities of the state had bagged prestigious posts from Patna University Students’ Union. Former chief minister and president of Rashtriya Janata Dal Lalu Prasad Yadav, former deputy chief minister and senior state BJP leader late Sushil Kumar Modi and former Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad were elected as PUSU president, general secretary and assistant general secretary of PUSU in 1973.

Former Union minister and senior state BJP leader Ashwani Kumar Choubey was also elected PUSU president in 1978.

The NSUI candidates for the post of PUSU president and general secretary Shantanu Shekhar this time defeated JD-U’s nearest rival Prince Kumar by 1496 votes, while Khushi Kumari defeated her opposition rival Rashtriya Janata Dal Pratyush Raj by 553 votes.

However, ABVP’s Abhishek Kumar and Harshvardhan won for the posts of joint secretary and treasurer, defeating NSUI and JD-U candidates respectively.

The voting percentage was highest at Patna Law College (50.66%) and Patna Science College (45.7%), respectively, while the lowest percentage was reported at BN College (21.2%) and Magadh Mahila College (21.72%) respectively.

For the first time, independent woman candidate Shifat Faiz won the post of Union Vice President, defeating JD-U candidate Ayush Harsh by 71 votes.

While congratulating the winning candidates, state Congress leader and former party MLC Prem Chandra Mishra said, “Winning NSUI candidates for the posts of President and General Secretary reflects the thoughts of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi”. Party state spokesperson Asit Nath Tiwari also congratulated the winning candidates and said, “The result shows the true mood of the youth of the state.”