UoH students begin hunger strike over Students union dissolution

University of Hyderabad students launched an indefinite hunger strike against the administration’s decision to dissolve the Students union 2024-25 before its tenure ended. Students allege bias in election scheduling, while the university cites Lyngdoh Committee guidelines for conducting polls this month

Hyderabad: Students of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) launched an indefinite hunger strike against the administration’s decision to dissolve the Students union 2024-25 before completion of its tenure and to call fresh elections.

Protesters who sat at the university gate said the union was dissolved without following proper procedures like calling for a University General Body Meeting (UGBM).

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Students union general secretary Nihad Sulaiman M said that except for ABVP, all student organisations had agreed to hold elections in October during a recent meeting with the DSW. However, the university favoured the ABVP and decided to conduct elections this month, he alleged.

“Why should the university dissolve the union before its tenure? This is the second time the union has been dissolved without the UGBM. Five students sat on the indefinite hunger strike,” he said.

The UoH administration on Wednesday said the Students union 2024-25 was dissolved in compliance with Lyngdoh Committee guidelines. It also announced the election schedule for the Students union 2025-26, with filing of nominations on September 11 and 12 (till 1 pm).

Scrutiny of nominations will be on September 12, while withdrawals will be allowed on September 13 between 2 pm and 4 pm. The final list of candidates will be released the same day around 10 pm.

Students can campaign from September 14 to 16. There will be no campaigning from 7 am on September 18. Polling is scheduled for September 19 between 9 am and 5 pm, and counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on September 20.