NEW DELHI – Students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) cast ballots on Tuesday in the annual JNUSU elections. The voting process will determine the next central panel and school councillors. Results are scheduled for announcement on November 6 .
The JNU campus saw students actively participate, rallying with drums and slogans as they queued to vote. Polling began at 9 AM and was scheduled until 5:30 PM, including a break from 1 PM to 2:30 PM. Election officials permitted students still in line to vote past the official closing time. A total of 9,043 students are eligible to participate in this year’s election.
Key Candidates and Ideological Contest
The election features 20 candidates competing for four central panel posts: president, vice-president, general secretary, and joint secretary. The contest primarily involves the Left Unity alliance and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). JNU elections often reflect national ideological undercurrents.
The Left Unity comprises the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF). This alliance has presented the following candidates for the central panel:
- President: Aditi Mishra
- Vice-President: Kizhakoot Gopika Babu
- General Secretary: Sunil Yadav
- Joint Secretary: Danish Ali
The ABVP has fielded its own panel of candidates for the same central posts:
- President: Vikas Patel
- Vice-President: Tanya Kumari
- General Secretary: Rajeshwar Kant Dubey
- Joint Secretary: Anuj
Campaign Agendas and Student Perspectives
ABVP campaigns have focused on “performance and nationalism” as core themes. The Left bloc has emphasized “inclusion, accessibility, and student welfare” in its platform.
Aishe Ghosh, a former JNUSU president, stated confidence in the Left Unity’s prospects. “The Left unity will win all four central panel seats,” Ghosh told PTI while campaigning near a polling booth.
Voter turnout, initially modest in the morning, increased significantly throughout the afternoon. Many students, including first-time voters, arrived with ID cards to cast their ballots. Aakansha, a 20-year-old undergraduate student, described her first election experience. “Until now, I had only heard about the JNU elections. Witnessing them for the first time feels special. It’s vibrant and serious at the same time,” she said. A postgraduate student from Kolkata noted, “It feels like a celebration. In my previous university, there were no student union polls. Here, it’s like a grand festival of democracy.”
Campus Issues and Political Direction
Student opinions on the union’s role and campus administration varied. Mahendra, a 25-year-old doctoral student, expressed support for Left-affiliated groups. “The Left-affiliated groups at least raise our issues and protest when needed,” Mahendra stated. “Even with limited powers, they make the administration listen.”
However, other students sought a shift in leadership and priorities. Sunil, a student voter, highlighted persistent campus problems despite past leadership. “The Left has been at the helm for years, but many campus problems remain the same – from library shortages to leaking roofs,” Sunil said. He added, “We want a union that focuses more on JNU’s own issues rather than global politics.”
This year’s election outcome will indicate the future direction of student representation and priorities at JNU.
Recent Election History
In the previous year’s election, AISA’s Nitish Kumar secured the president’s post. ABVP’s Vaibhav Meena won the joint secretary position. This marked a notable gain for ABVP, ending what the party described as a “decade-long drought” for the right-wing group in that specific central panel role. ABVP had then called it a “historic shift” in JNU’s campus politics.
Polling activity continued into the evening. The results, expected on November 6 , will reveal whether the Left retains its long-standing influence or if ABVP continues to expand its presence within JNU’s political landscape.