AUSG and AUEC share Updates on By-Elections, UG Council and Reserved Seats for International Students

On Thursday, 18th December, 2025, the Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG) sent out an email to the student body reiterating its call for by-elections to fill vacancies in the Undergraduate (UG) Council. The email, directed to the Ashoka University Election Commission (AUEC), cited representational gaps and increased operational strain resulting from the unfilled seats. The AUEC followed this with their own mail to the student body, addressing logistical concerns in conducting by-elections during the university's winter break.

The AUSG noted that in cases of resignation or removal from the UG Council following the general elections, the AUEC is mandated to conduct by-elections for the seat within two weeks of the vacancy. The statement acknowledged the necessity of due processes, noting unavoidable events faced by the AUEC, such as the appointment of a new Election Commissioner, internal elections, and deliberations over seat reservations for international students. However, the AUSG maintained that the AUEC must proceed with the by-elections at the earliest, as these processes have since concluded. 

In response, the AUEC acknowledged the AUSG’s concerns regarding representative decision-making and equitable distribution of responsibilities but emphasized the need to adhere to the procedural and temporal constraints outlined in the Election Code, stating its inability to initiate by-elections during the ongoing Winter Break. 

While reaffirming its commitment to uphold the mandate governing by-elections, the AUEC emphasized that it is also bound by procedural requirements that restrict the overlap of all stages of the election cycle with academic recess. An election cycle includes the nomination process, campaigning and polling period. Calling attention to Chapter 11, Section 11.1, of the Election Code, the AUEC stated that it cannot initiate by-elections at this time when the Winter Break is still underway. It further noted that the by-elections will be conducted at the “earliest feasible opportunity” once the academic recess concludes.

According to AUEC, a tentative timeline places the opening of nominations and the conduct of by-elections around Shopping week, subject to final confirmation. While the AUSG has stressed the urgent need for by-elections to restore a fully functional Council across cohorts, the AUEC has maintained that procedural integrity and adherence to the Election Code necessitate postponing the by-elections until the winter break concludes. 

In a statement to The Edict, AUSG Vice President Ahana Walanju (UG’25) explained that several rounds of deliberations were held prior to the announcement of vacancies on 18th October. These deliberations, involving the AUEC and Ashoka University International Students Associations (AUISA), included consideration of a possible reservation of a UG Council seat for international students. Walanju noted that the by-election process was further delayed due to the AUEC’s internal selection procedures, as well as procedural delays from the University administration’s end. 

Walanju added that the AUSG has been in communication with the AUEC and had sought clarity regarding the status of by-elections before releasing a public statement. While the AUEC had assured that by-elections would be initiated by the end of November 2025, with a potential reserved seat for the AUISA, no further updates were shared at the time. She noted that following AUSG’s public statement, the AUEC has formally reiterated its commitment to conducting the by-elections while clarifying its inability to do so during the Winter Break. 

On the issue of reservation, Walanju noted that there is a broad consensus among both the AUSG and AUEC. On Sunday, 21st December, 2025, the AUSG received confirmation from the AUEC regarding the UG Council reservation. 

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Samyak Mishra (UG’27), speaking to The Edict, elaborated on the reasons for the by-election delay. Stating the AUEC’s immediate plunge into sustained consultation after the announcement of UG Council vacancies rather than immediate action, Mishra clarifies that AUEC was engaged in discussions with the AUSG, AUISA and the Ashoka University administration in both formal and informal capacities. He reiterates that the primary cause of the delay was a lack of clarity by the administration regarding the seat reservation. The absence of such clarity would have led to procedural inconsistencies and subsequent contestations.  

Mishra noted that the AUEC faced an internal deadlock in appointing an additional Election Commissioner. The appointment was necessary to ensure an odd number of voting members, which would further strengthen the AUEC’s deliberative capacity and prevent the possibility of stalemates. The CEC also cited the delay in issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the incoming Commissioner, which led the AUEC to prioritize procedural coherence before initiating the by-election process.

Regarding seat reservation for international students in the UG Council, Mishra stated that the university administration informed the AUEC that the Board of Directors will take up the matter. However, in mid-November, the administration communicated that the responsibility for deciding on reservations lay with the AUEC, following which they decided to reserve a seat for international students and initiated the process of appointing an additional Commissioner.

While both the AUSG and the AUEC remain committed to conducting the by-elections in line with procedural mandates, this exchange highlights the operational impact of prolonged delays and vacancies on the functioning of the Student Government. Further updates regarding the by-election timeline are expected once the AUEC finalizes the election schedule following the winter break. 

(Edited by Anamta Husain & Somansh Sarangi)