The upcoming Mumbai University (MU) senate election has set the stage for a direct and highly anticipated contest between Aaditya Thackeray’s Yuva Sena and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), under the banner of the Vidyapeeth Vikas Manch. With both student wings fielding candidates for all ten seats, the election is expected to be a significant indicator of youth support ahead of the upcoming Assembly and BMC elections.

The university officially announced the schedule for the Senate election on August 4, with voting scheduled for September 22. The deadline for filing nominations was August 12, by which time a total of 52 applications had been submitted. Yuva Sena and ABVP each fielded ten candidates, ensuring a head-to-head battle for control of the senate. In addition to the major players, Chhatra Bharati Vidyarthi Sangathan has nominated four candidates, and MNS Secretary Sudhakar Tamboli, a former senate member, has also thrown his hat into the ring. Eknath Shinde faction’s Yuva Sena and MNS’s student wing, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) and even NCP`s students wing have opted not to field any candidates. The absence of these groups has raised questions.