Last Updated on November 6, 2026 11:40 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
By Our Correspondent
ALIGARH: Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has a new elected students’ union after an eight-year gap, with the results of the 2026 elections bringing both a change in campus leadership and a historic milestone in women’s representation. History research scholar Mohammad Noman Ashraf has been elected president, while law student Nashra Naim has become the first woman vice-president in the 105-year history of the Aligarh Muslim University Students’ Union (AMUSU). BTech student Mohammad Hamdan has won the post of honorary secretary.
The results were declared on Friday morning after polling on Thursday, November 5, and counting that continued through the night. The elections followed a prolonged student agitation, including a hunger strike and nearly 20 days of protests demanding restoration of the students’ union and a definite election schedule.
Ashraf secured 7,797 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Mohammad Intikhab, who polled 3,676. The winning margin was 4,121 votes. Naim received 7,091 votes, defeating Sakib Ali Khan, who secured 5,818, by a margin of 1,273 votes. Hamdan won the honorary secretary’s post with 8,385 votes against 6,882 polled by his closest rival, Ahmed Faraz Razi. Hamdan thus secured the highest vote tally among the three principal office-bearers.
Ten elected Cabinet Members are Muhammad Ahmad Khan (10,794 votes), Hania Khan (8,266), Areeba Dilshad (7,091), Shazia Shamim (6,332), Muhammed Muhsin K (6,267), Muhammed Murshid K (5,644), Arsalan Khan (4,680), Anika Rumman Rahi (4,498), Shaheen Parween (4,098) and Mohd Faiz (4,035).
Women secure record representation
Naim’s victory marks a significant moment in the university’s student politics. She is the first woman to be elected to one of the union’s three principal offices—president, vice-president or honorary secretary. Women candidates also won five of the 10 cabinet-member positions, taking their total representation to six of the union’s 13 elected posts. The results therefore reflect a wider expansion of women’s participation in the elected student body, beyond the landmark victory in the vice-presidential contest.
Strong turnout after prolonged agitation
A total of 15,523 students voted out of an electorate of 20,754, recording a turnout of 74.65 per cent. Voting took place at 13 polling centres across the campus. Counting began on Thursday evening and continued until the results were confirmed early Friday.
The election process followed weeks of protests that began on September 21. Students had demanded the restoration of the elected union, a fixed date for the polls and changes in the university’s proctorial administration. Student leader Yasir Fahad also undertook an indefinite hunger strike during the agitation. The university subsequently announced the election schedule on October 9, and the protest was called off after the administration agreed to hold the polls and appointed Mohammad Nafees Ahmad Ansari as the new proctor in place of Mohammad Naveed Khan.
The university administration described the polling as peaceful. Vice-Chancellor Prof Naima Khatoon welcomed the conduct of the elections and the increased participation of women, calling the process a reaffirmation of the university’s democratic traditions. University officials reported no incidents of violence during the election campaign.
Women’s College Union results
The university also announced the results of the Women’s College Students’ Union (WCSU). Anam Riyaz was elected president, Ayesha Khan vice-president and Mariyam Jaan honorary secretary.
Eight students were elected as Cabinet Members at WCSU. Juveriya Rehman topped the list with 1,485 votes, followed by Ameena Khanam (1,445), Hiba Manaal (1,325), Sabiha (1,251), Zakiya Murtaza (1,124), Khushboo Perween (1,118), Mehvish (1,081) and Fatima Hasan (1,079).
The elections to the AMU Court also saw the selection of 11 student representatives from different faculties and faculty groupings. The elected representatives are Mohd. Kaif (Faculty of Medicine, 1,147 votes); Amina Faizan (Faculty of Unani Medicine, 216 votes); Shahanshah Khan (Faculty of Science, 941 votes); Mohd Rafe (Faculty of Life Sciences, 383 votes); Mohd Kumail Ashraf (Faculty of Engineering and Technology, 1,384 votes); Mohd Hamza Ansari (Faculty of Law, 321 votes); Mohd. Ahsun Usmani (Faculties of Management Studies & Research and International Studies, 241 votes); Mohtashim Ejaz Sani (Faculties of Agricultural Sciences, Theology and K.A. Nizami Centre for Quranic Studies, 294 votes); Abdul Basid Siddique (Faculty of Social Science, 743 votes); Kafeel Ul Haq (Faculty of Arts, 495 votes); and Ilma Mashroof (Faculty of Commerce, 336 votes).
The results were declared by Prof. Javaid Talib, Chief Election Officer for the AMUSU and AMU Court elections, and Prof. Nazia Hasan, Chief Election Officer for the Women’s College Students’ Union elections.
Expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the elections, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Naima Khatoon congratulated the newly elected office-bearers, cabinet members and Court representatives. “Our students have once again shown how much they value the democratic process, and I am proud of the way they took part in it,” she said. “I appreciate the Chief Election Officers, the Proctor, the Deans and the entire administration for conducting the elections with fairness and care. I am equally thankful to our teachers and students, whose support made this a joint effort in every sense. I hope the newly elected representatives will work for the welfare of their fellow students with honesty and commitment.”
With the return of elected student bodies, the new representatives will now be expected to take up issues concerning students, including academic facilities, campus welfare and their participation in university decision-making. For AMU, the elections mark the restoration of a formal channel of student representation after years without an elected union.