The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) witnessed a historic win for the Left-backed alliance in the recent elections. This victory marks a significant moment for the student body, with Dhananjay from the All India Students’ Association (AISA) becoming the first Dalit president from the Left wing in nearly three decades.
Left Alliance Dominates JNUSU Polls
The United Left panel, a coalition of Left-wing student organizations, achieved a clean sweep in the JNUSU elections, defeating their main competitor, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) affiliated with the RSS. This outcome comes after a four-year hiatus in student union elections at JNU.
Dhananjay Secures Landslide Victory
Dhananjay, hailing from Gaya, Bihar, secured a resounding victory in the presidential race. He garnered a total of 2,598 votes, significantly outpacing his ABVP opponent, Umesh C Ajmeera, who received 1,676 votes. Dhananjay’s win holds historical significance, making him the first Dalit president elected under the Left banner since Batti Lal Bairwa’s win in 1996-97.
Focus on Student Issues
Expressing his elation after the win, Dhananjay emphasized the victory as a rejection of divisive politics and a vote of confidence from the students in the Left alliance. He outlined his priorities as JNUSU president, including ensuring campus safety for women, addressing funding cuts, advocating for scholarship increases, and tackling infrastructure and water shortage issues.
Left Alliance Clinches All Central Panel Positions
The jubilant celebrations echoed with chants of “Lal Salaam” and “Jai Bhim” as supporters rallied behind the winning candidates. The Left alliance dominated all four central panel positions. Avijit Ghosh from the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) secured the vice-president’s post with 2,409 votes, defeating ABVP’s Deepika Sharma (1,482 votes).
Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association (BAPSA) Makes Mark
Priyanshi Arya, contesting from BAPSA with Left support, emerged victorious in the general secretary election. She defeated ABVP’s Arjun Anand by a margin of 926 votes (Arya: 2,887 votes, Anand: 1961 votes). The Left alliance extended its support to Arya after the Election Committee disqualified their initial candidate, Swati Singh, due to a challenge from the ABVP.
Mohammad Sajid Wins Joint Secretary Post
Mohammad Sajid, representing the Left alliance, secured the joint secretary position with 2,231 votes, defeating ABVP’s Govind Dangi (1,723 votes). Although his win had the narrowest margin among the Left candidates, it solidified their complete domination of the JNUSU central panel.
High Voter Turnout & JNU’s Left Legacy
The JNUSU elections witnessed a remarkable voter turnout of 73%, the highest in the past twelve years. This outcome reaffirms JNU’s reputation as a strong bastion of Left-wing politics. While the ABVP initially appeared competitive, leading in early trends for all central panel positions, the Left alliance ultimately prevailed with a decisive victory.
