India, Sept. 23 -- The University of Hyderabad (HCU) is set for a tightly contested students' union election next week, with three major alliances now in the fray after a week of nominations, withdrawals and last-minute political realignments on campus.

Nominations opened on September 20, with scrutiny and withdrawal of candidatures spread across the following two days. Alliances on campus fell into place only late on the final night of withdrawals, setting up what promises to be a tightly fought three-way contest ahead of polling on September 28, with results due a day later.

The first alliance is a Left-Ambedkarite-Tribal front bringing together the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the Ambedkar Students Association (ASA), the All ...