Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) witnessed a historic moment on Friday, 6 November 2026, as the results of its long-awaited Students' Union elections were declared — the first to be held in eight years. Research scholar Noman Ashraf was elected president, while law student Nashra Naim scripted history by becoming the first woman ever to win one of the three principal posts — president, vice-president, or secretary — in the union's elections. BTech student Mohammad Hamdan was elected honorary secretary, completing the results for the three top positions.

Election Results at a Glance

Voting was conducted on 5 November across 13 polling centres on the AMU campus. The counting of votes ran through the night at the university's ABK School campus, with results formally announced on Friday morning. The process drew intense student participation after nearly a decade of the union's electoral process remaining suspended.

Noman Ashraf, a research scholar in the Department of History, secured 7,797 votes to claim the presidency. He defeated his closest rival, Mohammad Intikhab, by a margin of 4,121 votes. As counting concluded, jubilant supporters erupted in celebrations, raising slogans and bursting firecrackers across the campus.

What the New President Said

Reacting to his victory, the newly elected president said, 'After a long struggle of eight years, we have finally achieved this opportunity, and it is a moment of great happiness. You can see the enthusiasm and excitement among the students here...'

Newly elected honorary secretary Mohammad Hamdan also struck a sober note alongside the celebrations. 'A victory this big comes with an even bigger responsibility, and I will do my best to fulfil it. I will make every effort to honour all the promises I have made and work wholeheartedly towards achieving them...' he said.

Nashra Naim's Historic Victory

The most consequential outcome of the election came in the vice-president's contest, where Nashra Naim became the first woman in AMU Students' Union history to win any of its three top posts. Seven candidates contested the vice-president's position. Naim faced a close race against Saqib Ali Khan before pulling ahead in the final rounds of counting to secure a landmark victory.

Describing her win as a collective achievement, Naim said, 'I believe that achieving this in such a short time, with limited resources and a small team, was possible because of the dedication, courage and sincerity of the people who joined us.'

She also signalled an intent to reshape the union's culture and address longstanding issues. 'I feel that leadership needs to be redefined. Over the past eight years, several issues have emerged, and even before that, when the Students' Union was active, we had heard about many challenges...' Naim said, adding that she described her victory as a win for the entire student community.

Significance of the Revival

The AMU Students' Union elections had remained dormant for eight years — a period that students say saw accumulated grievances go unaddressed within one of India's most prominent central universities. The resumption of elections, and particularly Naim's breakthrough, is being widely seen as a marker of institutional renewal. Notably, AMU has historically been a predominantly male-led student political space, making her election a significant cultural shift alongside a structural one.

With a new elected leadership now in place, attention will turn to how swiftly the union moves to take up student concerns — from academic policy to campus infrastructure — after nearly a decade of electoral silence.