New Dehli- The atmosphere at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) reverberated with slogans and beats of dafli and dhol as the counting process unfolded for the students’ union election, culminating in a decisive outcome on Sunday evening.
At approximately 11:30 p.m, the election committee announced that the United Left coalition secured three key positions in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU), while the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association (BAPSA) clinched one position. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), affiliated with the RSS, conceded defeat across all posts, trailing behind by a slim margin.
The United Left alliance, comprising the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the Democratic Students Federation (DSF), and the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), fielded a candidate each for the four contested positions.
Dhananjay of the AISA emerged victorious in the presidential race with 2,598 votes, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support and emphasizing the students' discontent with the current government. His victory marks a significant milestone as the sole Dalit candidate to secure the presidential position in the last two decades.
Priyanshi Arya, nominated by BAPSA, secured the general secretary position with 2,887 votes, highlighting her agenda to address issues like accessibility for students with disabilities, dropout rates among SC and ST students, and reinstating the GSCASH (Gender Sensitisation Against Sexual Harassment). Arya underscored the importance of accommodating the demands of the queer collective, advocating for gender-neutral language in official documents and construction of inclusive washrooms.
Avijit Ghosh from the SFI clinched the vice-president position with 2,409 votes, focusing on improving hostel facilities, addressing infrastructure constraints, enhancing campus safety, and promoting gender equality in academic enrollment. Mo Sajid from the AISF secured the joint secretary position with 2,574 votes.
Meanwhile, the Left candidate for the general secretary position, Swati Singh, faced disqualification on the polling day, leaving the field open for Arya's victory. Despite the Left's endorsement of BAPSA, the latter maintained its independent stance, emphasizing its commitment to marginalized communities' representation beyond electoral alliances.
JNU, traditionally a bastion of Left ideologies, witnessed a renewed affirmation of leftist dominance in the wake of ABVP's aspirations to challenge its stronghold. The election, after a hiatus of four years due to the pandemic and subsequent PhD admissions, attracted approximately 5,600 students, including a significant number of first-time voters.
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