The campus of Gauhati University turned tense and chaotic on Monday after clashes broke out between supporters of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) following the announcement of the Postgraduate Students’ Union (PGSU) election results. The situation, which began as a celebration of student democracy, quickly spiraled into disorder, forcing authorities to call in police and tighten security inside the university premises.
The trouble reportedly started during the counting process inside the university campus. According to students present at the spot, a group of ABVP supporters, some of whom were said to be outsiders not enrolled in the university, entered the campus to take part in the celebrations. Their presence created discomfort among the resident students and AASU supporters, who questioned why non-students were allowed inside the restricted area during counting.
One student, who did not wish to be named, said the tension began with verbal exchanges. “They were not familiar faces from the university. The way they talked and moved around created unease. Soon people started shouting, and before anyone could stop it, the situation turned ugly,” the student said. Within minutes, arguments turned into scuffles, and groups of students began pushing and shoving near the Arts Building area. 
Police and university security guards rushed in to control the crowd. Some students alleged that a few individuals from both sides were injured in the chaos, though no major injuries were reported. The administration immediately increased security deployment around the campus to prevent any further incidents. By evening, the campus returned to partial calm, though the atmosphere remained charged and uneasy.
Meanwhile, the results of the PGSU election showed a tight contest between AASU and ABVP, with both organizations winning several key positions. Out of 3,940 registered voters, about 59 percent turned up to cast their votes this year, reflecting strong participation in student politics at one of Assam’s most prestigious universities.
In the final results, ABVP’s Gunjan Deka was elected President, securing 1,978 votes. AASU’s Siddhartha Sankar Hazarika won the Vice-President post with 1,991 votes, while ABVP’s Prabal Jyoti Sarmah became the General Secretary, winning narrowly with 1,932 votes. The results showed a balanced outcome between both student bodies, with AASU taking key positions like the Assistant General Secretary (PG), Cultural Secretary, and Literary Secretary, while ABVP secured strong positions in Fine Arts, Sports, and Gymnasium categories.
The ABVP camp celebrated the re-election of their candidate to the top post for the second consecutive year, calling it a sign of growing student faith in their leadership. On the other hand, AASU supporters said their victory across cultural and academic posts proved their continued dominance on the campus. “We respect the democratic choice of the students. But the violence that happened today is unfortunate and must not be repeated,” an AASU member said.
