Under the burnt-orange glow of the autumn sun, Aligarh Muslim University’s (AMU) sprawling green lawns become a backdrop to conversations around the upcoming student elections gathering steam at the weathered brick façade of the Department of History. Donning a black sherwani — a knee-length coat featuring a front button closure prescribed as the dress code for male candidates — Saquib Ali Khan, an M. Tech student and the vice-presidential candidate, asks the girls sitting in the lawn to vote for him.

While campaigning, he highlights the importance of Aligarh Muslim University Students Union (AMUSU) elections being held after a gap of eight years when he is interrupted by two girls — Zunaira Habib Alvi from Aligarh and Rahat Ul Aien from Kashmir. “What about our votes?” they ask.