The University of Allahabad on Monday voted against changing its name to Prayagraj University, as suggested by the Centre, but sources said there was likely to be one more round of voting.

The human resource development ministry had on May 8 asked the 133-year-old university to vote on a possible name change since the city and district of Allahabad had both been renamed Prayagraj last year.

On Monday, 12 of the 15 current members of the university’s executive council, which takes policy decisions, voted against a name change. The remaining three members, deemed to be pro-renaming, abstained.

The vote was held through email since the coronavirus protocol ruled out a physical meeting.

“All those against renaming the university said a name change would not be in the interest of the students or teachers,” university spokesperson Shailendra Mishra told The Telegraph over the phone.

Sources said the HRD ministry had the option of seeking a reconsideration, but if the university voted against a name change again the decision would become final.

Mishra said the council had a full strength of 23 members but retirements had left 8 seats vacant.

“Of the 23, the vice-chancellor, the state governor’s nominee, the chancellor’s nominee, the four nominees of the Visitor (the President of India) and the four members from affiliated colleges usually support every decision by the ruling dispensation,” a senior member of the university said on the condition of anonymity.

“But the seats of three nominees of the Visitor, the four college representatives and the chancellor’s nominee are vacant. The governor’s nominee, the lone Visitor’s nominee and the vice-chancellor abstained. The VC votes only if there’s a tie.”

A.K. Srivastava, former chemistry professor at the university, said: “Our campaign against a name change has borne results. I must thank all those who voted against the government’s plan to insult a tradition.”

He added: “The universities of Madras, Calcutta and Bombay didn’t change their names when their host cities were renamed.”

The senior university member who asked not to be quoted said: “The executive council had received a note from the HRD ministry suggesting its members send a proposal from their side for a name change. Three members had said at past meetings that they wanted a name change. But knowing well that they were in a minority, they decided to stay away from voting.”