By Amrit Pal Singh #Babushahi Network
Bathinda, September 20, 2026
The Panjab University Senate elections generated considerable excitement in Bathinda on Sunday as hundreds of registered graduate voters began arriving at the two polling booths set up at MSD Senior Secondary School, turning the polling venue into a buzzing centre of electoral activity from the morning.
Long queues of voters were witnessed at the polling booths, with graduates from different age groups turning up to exercise their franchise. The polling atmosphere remained charged as voters made their way through the election process amid the presence of candidate supporters and assistance camps outside the polling venue.
The polling exercise was not merely about casting votes. For many voters, the first stop was the candidate support camps, where they sought information about their respective polling booths and other voting-related details before entering the polling station.
CANDIDATE CAMPS DRAW SUPPORTERS
The camps set up by supporters of candidates Ravinder Singh Billa, Naresh Gaur and Lajwant Singh Virk remained among the noticeable activity points around the polling venue.
Supporters were seen actively assisting voters with booth information and guiding them towards the designated polling arrangements. The camps witnessed a steady flow of voters and supporters throughout the morning, adding to the election-day activity in the area.
The presence of these camps also provided a visible indication of the organisational efforts being put in by candidates and their supporters as polling progressed.
51 CANDIDATES, 15 SEATS—A MULTI-CORNERED BATTLE
The election is being held for the Registered Graduates Constituency, one of the important constituencies of the Panjab University Senate—the apex governing body of the university.
As many as 51 candidates are contesting for 15 Ordinary Fellow (Senator) seats, making the contest a crowded and multi-cornered affair.
Thousands of registered graduate voters whose names figure in the final electoral roll are eligible to vote. From young graduates to elderly voters, people from different age groups were seen arriving at the polling stations.
The strong presence of voters during the opening hours brought considerable activity to the polling venue, while candidates and their supporters kept a close watch on the proceedings.
POLLING ACROSS FIVE REGIONS
The election has drawn voter participation not only in Punjab but also across Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh, where polling stations have been established for eligible registered graduates.
The widespread polling exercise reflects the geographical reach of Panjab University and its registered graduate constituency.
WHY THE SENATE ELECTION MATTERS
The Panjab University Senate has an important role in the university's governance and institutional functioning. Issues relating to academic standards, financial administration and matters concerning teachers and students fall within the broader framework of the university's governing bodies.
For registered graduates, the Senate election provides an opportunity to participate in the university's governance through the election of their representatives.
BALLOT BOXES TO REACH CHANDIGARH UNDER SECURITY
Once polling concludes on Sunday evening, the ballot boxes will be transported under tight security arrangements to the Gymnasium Hall at Panjab University campus in Sector 14, Chandigarh.
The sealed ballot boxes will remain secured until the scheduled counting process.
COUNTING ON SEPTEMBER 23
All eyes will now turn to the counting day. As per the scheduled programme, counting of votes will begin at 9:30 am on September 23, after which the results will be formally declared.
With 51 candidates fighting for 15 Ordinary Fellow seats, the counting process is expected to attract close attention from candidates, supporters and registered graduates across the region.
For Bathinda, Sunday's polling turned the MSD Senior Secondary School polling venue into a focal point of the PU Senate election, with voters, candidates' supporters and election-related activity continuing to dominate the scene.