The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab today announced the appointment of MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand as election in-charges for the upcoming Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections. The appointments have been made for AAP Student Wing - Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), as the party begins preparations for the upcoming student elections at Panjab University.
AAP Punjab congratulated both leaders on being entrusted with the new responsibility and expressed confidence that their experience and connect with young people would strengthen the party’s student outreach and campaign at the university.
Addressing the media, MLA Amritpal Singh Sukhanand said that the appointment marks the beginning of preparations for the upcoming PUCSC elections, which are expected to be held next month. He said that the state team of ASAP, along with its senior and former office-bearers, had held a detailed meeting regarding the elections and would work collectively to strengthen the party’s presence among students.
Sukhanand said that AAP has always raised issues concerning education and students’ rights and has consistently worked towards bringing young people into politics. He said Panjab University has a proud and glorious history of producing prominent leaders who have made significant contributions to Punjab and the country.
“Whenever there is a discussion about education, student rights or bringing a new generation of youth into politics, AAP is always on the forefront. We are preparing for these elections with full commitment because we want to ensure that students’ voices are strongly represented,” he said.
Referring to recent student protests across the country, Sukhanand said AAP and its student wing had actively supported students protesting against issues affecting their future, including examination-related concerns and paper leaks. He said that the party’s student activists participated in protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi as well as at colleges and universities across the country.
He said that more than 70 paper leaks had raised serious questions over the future of nearly two crore students and said that several students had even lost their lives due to the resulting uncertainty and distress. “These are not merely political issues; they directly affect the future of our young generation,” he said.
Sukhanand also highlighted local issues concerning Panjab University students, including cleanliness, hostel facilities, campus safety and other concerns. Referring to the death of a student due to electrocution near an exposed electrical wire, he said that what may appear to be a small failure of the system can become an unimaginable tragedy for a family.
He said the AAP student wing would raise both national issues affecting students and local campus concerns during the PUCSC elections. He added that ASAP had demonstrated that student protests can bring results, citing the campaign over the Panjab University Senate, following which the Central Government had to announce that Senate elections would be held again.
Amritsar Sukhanand further said that student politics plays an important role in developing future political leadership. He said young leaders who emerge from student politics often have a broader vision, greater understanding of public issues and a stronger passion for working among people.
He said AAP wants to create an environment at Panjab University where students from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and other regions can emerge as capable and honest political leaders. “We want to produce leaders who, after leaving this university and entering public life, speak for the people and work for them with honesty, dedication and enthusiasm,” he said.
MLA Sukhanand said AAP had challenged the traditional political system that often kept young people away from politics and expressed confidence that the party’s student wing would continue nurturing a new generation of leaders committed to public service.
