New Delhi: A coalition of Left student parties, the Left Unity, swept the student union elections at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), winning all four seats — president, vice president, general secretary, and joint secretary.
The ABVP was heading towards a sweep at one point in time, but as the counting continued, the Left increased their numbers and eventually secured all four posts.
The elections, conducted after 4-year Covid hiatus, saw the United Left alliance comprising All India Students’ Association (AISA), Democratic Students Federation (DSF), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students’ Federation (AISF), contesting against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
Chairperson of the JNU election committee Shailendra Kumar said, “For the post of president, the names of the candidates are Dhananjay (Left) with 2598 votes, Umesh Chandra Ajmeera (ABVP) with 1676 votes…I declare Dhananjay (Left) elected.”
Ever since JNU was established in 1969, left-wing student organisations, specifically the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), have had a strong influence on student politics. As many as 19 candidates were contesting for positions on the central panel of JNUSU, with eight candidates in the fray for the post of the president.
Till date, the SFI has had 22 victories in the presidential post, while the All India Students’ Association (AISA) has won 11 times.
The presidential debate for the JNUSU elections was held on March 20. Polling was held on March 22 and the result was put out on Sunday.
