This victory is part of a wider national trend, following significant wins in Delhi and Panjab universities, indicating the growing influence of the RSS-affiliated student wing. (Image: Rediff)
At the University of Hyderabad (UoH), the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) won all six central panel seats in the student union elections, causing a full sweep that has rocked India's student political scene.The victory, announced after polls held on September 19, marks a significant return to power for the right-aligned student body after a gap of seven years.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar was quick to hail the win, stating on X (formerly Twitter), "Gen Z of UoH is with ABVP. From president to sports secretary, every key position has been secured. This clean sweep reflects the trust Gen Z at UoH has placed in nationalist ideology." His words underscore the national political significance being attached to this campus verdict.
The ABVP, or Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, is the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and is ideologically aligned with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Supporters see such a sweeping victory at a major central university such as UoH as a strong endorsement of its ideas and a rejection of its opponents, mostly student organizations linked with the Left and Congress.
The ABVP's Greater Hyderabad unit stated the victory signifies students’ united stand against "divisive politics" and their commitment to nationalism. “ABVP’s relentless efforts in promoting campus peace, protecting HCU lands, and addressing student concerns through movements have earned widespread support,” the unit added, framing the win as a reward for its grassroots activism.
The following students will now serve as the UoH student union's leaders::
President: Siva Palepu (PhD scholar)
Vice-President: Debendra
General Secretary: Shruti Priya
Joint Secretary: Saurabh Shukla
Cultural Secretary: Venus
Sports Secretary: Jwala
This team will be responsible for representing the student body and managing union affairs for the coming year.
The UoH student union elections are a major democratic exercise on campus. According to official university data, the 2025 election saw a high voter turnout of over 81 per cent. A total of 169 candidates were in the fray, backed by major groups like the ABVP, the Left-backed Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), and several independent candidates. The ABVP's victory was all the more decisive as it overcame a united opposition alliance.
Analysts and political observers are viewing the Hyderabad result not as an isolated incident, but as part of a broader pattern of the ABVP gaining strength in universities across India. This sweep comes hot on the heels of other significant victories for the organization.
Just last week, the ABVP won three of the four central posts in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, wresting the president's post from the NSUI. Furthermore, earlier this month, the ABVP scripted history by winning the president's post in the Panjab University Campus Students' Council (PUCSC) elections for the first time in the varsity's 50-year history. Their candidate, Gaurav Veer Sohal, won by a comfortable margin.
From Punjab to Delhi to Hyderabad, this run of victories points to the ABVP's expanding and cemented power on important Indian campuses, transforming what they refer to as a "saffron wave" of momentum into a tangible electoral mandate.
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The ABVP last achieved such a sweeping victory at the University of Hyderabad in the student union elections held in 2018–19. Then, it had secured all six posts through an alliance with the Other Backward Classes Federation (OBCF) and the Sevalal Vidyarthi Dal (SLVD). This year's win, achieved independently, is seen as even more significant by its members and supporters.
The victory was formally acknowledged by top BJP leadership, including Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy and Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao, who congratulated the ABVP on its performance.
