Chandigarh, Sept. 1 -- Once the heartbeat of Panjab University's annual election season, the Student Centre has lost its political pulse after the closure of its iconic Coffee House - the only large indoor space in the centrally located building that could host party huddles and press conferences.

The Coffee House has remained shut since January 2025 after the contractor gave up the tender, citing high rent and low footfall.

The absence of the poll hotspot, combined with strict police enforcement in the area, has forced student outfits to shift their campaign trail to other corners of the campus, most notably the science departments.

Earlier, the Coffee House was not only a student-favourite haunt for socialising, but also the campaign...