Chandigarh: Despite months of campaigning for restoration of the elected Senate, sustained mobilisation around Panjab University and the entry of several new faces in the fray, only 14.68% of the university’s registered graduates voted in Sunday’s Senate election.Senior PU officials pegged the turnout at 14.68%, with booth-wise figures finalised late on Sunday. With over 6.25 lakh registered graduates in the constituency, the 14.68% turnout translates into roughly 91,750 voters exercising their franchise.The Registered Graduates constituency saw 51 candidates contesting 15 seats. Polling was conducted through 281 booths, with more than 1,500 university employees deployed and expenditure estimated at over Rs 2 crore.The election was the first after the university remained without an elected Senate following the completion of the previous Senate’s term in Oct 2024. The absence of the elected body triggered prolonged protests and mobilisation over the Senate and proposed changes to the university’s governance structure.The campaign featured both veteran contenders and new entrants seeking a place in the university’s highest elected statutory body. However, the heightened activity did not translate into a significant increase in voter participation, according to provisional figures.In 2021, turnout stood at 14.57%. It was around 19% in 2016 and 26.12% in 2012. The 14.8% turnout this year was only marginally higher than the 14.57% recorded in 2021, despite the extensive campaigning and mobilisation that preceded the election.The figures also highlight the scale of the graduates’ constituency, where even large numbers of voters at polling stations account for only a small share of an electorate exceeding six lakh.The university had expanded polling arrangements this year, setting up 281 booths across its electoral area. Chandigarh had 33 booths and Ludhiana 52, while polling was also held across Punjab and other states.The counting of votes is scheduled for Sept 23, when the results for all 15 seats will be announced.
