On Tuesday, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus buzzed with energy as students rallied for the JNUSU elections. Drums resonated and slogans echoed as they prepared to cast their votes for the next students’ union leadership.
Details of the Voting Process
The polling started at 9 am and was scheduled to continue until 5:30 pm, pausing between 1 pm and 2:30 pm. Students who were in line by the close of polling were permitted to vote even afterward. The election results will be declared on November 6.
Candidates and Eligibility
A total of 20 candidates are contesting for four pivotal positions in the central panel: president, vicepresident, general secretary, and joint secretary. Approximately 9,043 students are eligible to vote this year.
Political Landscape
This election reflects significant ideological divides among students. The primary competition is between Left Unity and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which is connected to the RSS.
Left Unity’s Candidates
- Aditi Mishra President
- Kizhakoot Gopika Babu VicePresident
- Sunil Yadav General Secretary
- Danish Ali Joint Secretary
ABVP’s Candidates
- Vikas Patel President
- Tanya Kumari VicePresident
- Rajeshwar Kant Dubey General Secretary
- Anuj Joint Secretary
The ABVP has campaigned with a focus on “performance and nationalism,” while the Left bloc emphasizes “inclusion, accessibility, and student welfare.” Aishe Ghosh, a former JNUSU president, expressed confidence, stating, “The Left unity will win all four central panel seats.”
Voter Engagement
Initially, voter turnout was relatively low, but interest surged in the afternoon. Many students, including firsttime voters, expressed excitement about participating in what they described as a “festival of democracy.”
Aakansha, a 20yearold undergraduate, remarked, “Witnessing the elections feels special. It’s vibrant and serious at the same time.” In contrast, sentiments among students varied. Mahendra, a 25yearold doctoral candidate, praised the Leftaffiliated groups for addressing student issues. Others, like Sunil, sought changes in leadership, claiming persistent issues like library shortages and maintenance problems.
Last Year’s Results and Anticipation for This Year
In the previous year, AISA’s Nitish Kumar won the presidency, and ABVP’s Vaibhav Meena became joint secretary, marking a notable shift in JNU’s political scene. As the polling atmosphere remained lively, the upcoming results will be crucial in determining whether the Left maintains its dominance or the ABVP strengthens its influence.