JNUSU Election Results: Left Wins 3 Key Posts, ABVP Ends 9-Year Drought
New Delhi:
Left candidates bagged three of the four central panel posts in the JNUSU election to maintain their foothold in the premier university while the RSS-affiliated ABVP ended a nine-year phase out of office to win the post of joint secretary.
According to the results announced by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) election commission early on Monday, Nitish Kumar of the All India Students' Association (AISA) secured 1,702 votes to win the post of president.
His closest competitor -- Shikha Swaraj of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) -- secured 1,430 votes while Students' Federation of India (SFI)-supported Tayabba Ahmed polled 918 votes.
Manisha of the Democratic Students' Federation (DSF) won the post of vice-president by securing 1,150 votes, ahead of the ABVP's Nittu Goutham who polled 1,116 votes.
The DSF also bagged the general secretary's post, with Munteha Fatima polling 1,520 votes, ahead of the ABVP's Kunal Rai who secured 1,406 votes.
The ABVP clinched the post of joint secretary, with Vaibhav Meena polling 1,518 votes, ahead of AISA's Naresh Kumar (1,433 votes) and Progressive Students' Association (PSA) candidate Nigam Kumari (1,256 votes).
Meena's win marked the first time the ABVP has bagged a central panel post since Saurav Sharma's victory on the same post in 2015-16. The last time the ABVP won the post of president was in 2000-01 when Sandeep Mahapatra had emerged victorious.
This year's election saw a split in the Left alliance, with the AISA and the DSF contesting as one bloc while the SFI and the All India Students' Federation (AISF) formed a coalition with the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association (BAPSA) and the PSA.
The ABVP contested the election independently.
Hailing the victory of its alliance on three central panel posts, AISA also raised concern over the ABVP's narrow win for the post of joint secretary and called it a challenge to the Left's dominance on campus.
"It is indeed a matter of concern that the ABVP has won the post of joint secretary with a margin of 85 votes. Despite this structural assault and corruption of the admission process to ensure BJP loyalists in faculty positions act as a ticket for the ruling regime on campus, the Left has returned to its leadership position in the JNUSU," AISA said in a statement.
It called the alliance's victory a mandate against the government's New Education Policy which, it said, undermined public-funded education and discriminated against marginalised groups.
In contrast, the ABVP called its victory "a historic shift in JNU's political landscape" and said it broke the Left's "so-called red fortress".
"This victory in JNU is not only proof of the ABVP's proactive hard work and students' faith and commitment to nationalist thinking but it is also a victory for all students who consider education as the foundation for nation-rebuilding. This is a democratic revolution against the so-called ideological tyranny established by the Left for years in JNU," the ABVP said in a statement.
Meena, the newly-elected joint secretary, said, "I am not at all considering this victory as my personal achievement or gain but it's a massive and fascinating victory of tribal consciousness and the nationalist ideology, which has been suppressed by the Left for years." "This success is an embodiment of students who want to advance in education by wholeheartedly upholding cultural identity and the spirit of nation re-building," he added.
The polls, held on April 25, witnessed about 5,500 of the 7,906 eligible students casting their votes.
While the turnout was slightly lower than the 73 per cent recorded in 2023, it was among the highest since 2012.
Twenty-nine candidates were in the fray for the four central panel posts and 200 for the 44 councillor seats.
In the March 2024 polls, held after a four-year gap following the outbreak of Covid, the United Left won three of the four central panel posts while BAPSA -- which had contested independently -- secured one.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Need to reach out to every home, unite Hindus: RSS chief Bhagwat
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday exhorted its members to reach out to every family and work to unite all Hindus, asserting that the goal is to build a society that is free of inequalities like casteism and is aware of its responsibility towards the nation. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief, who arrived here on Saturday on a two-day visit, made the remarks while speaking to volunteers at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya School in Nawabganj. "We should have contact with every family in the 'shakha' area. "Work has to be done to unite all Hindus. There should be 'sanskar' (values) in every household and harmony in families so that the Sanatan tradition can be re-established in every home," he said. On Sunday, Bhagwat held four meetings with Sangh officials where the functioning of 'shakhas' and service work conducted among students were discussed along with other issues. Bhagwat said that the RSS "works for personality development. Personal development means realising one's responsibility towards the family as well as society, nation and the entire human race, i.e. the world". "We say that the world is a family. As the Sangh grew, it expanded its scope and expanded its work in various areas of social life through its workers," he said. "Today we are in the centenary year of the Sangh. On the basis of Panch Parivartan, an effort is being made to move towards a big change in the entire society -- a society that is aware of its responsibility towards the nation, a society that builds its lifestyle in accordance with the environment; "A society that is free from the inequality of casteism, where the entire society has equal rights on temples, water reservoirs, crematoriums," he said. Swayamsevaks are being trained in Kanpur from May 21, and the camp will conclude on June 10, RSS office bearers in Kanpur said. Dattatreya Hosabale, the general secretary of the RSS, has been in Kanpur for the past two days and is providing training to volunteers on building a "society that transcends caste barriers", they said.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Move beyond caste divides to build more inclusive India: Bhagwat
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said that access to temples, water bodies, and cremation grounds should be equal for all communities. He emphasised that society must move beyond caste-based inequalities to build a more inclusive India. Addressing over 400 volunteers during the regional 'Karyakarta Vikas Varg' camp at Deendayal Upadhyaya School in Nawabganj, Kanpur, Bhagwat said: 'The RSS's core aim is character-building, and that individuals must recognise their responsibilities not only to their families but also to the wider society, the nation, and humanity.' Stressing that the Sangh has grown by deepening its roots in society, the RSS chief said the centenary year is a time to expand its work. The RSS is focusing on the 'Panch Parivartan' , which includes building a socially responsible, environmentally conscious and united society, free from divisions. Bhagwat urged all volunteers to help carry RSS literature to every household, promote value-based living, and strengthen familial bonds. 'Every Hindu home should be rooted in values, so that the Sanatan tradition may thrive again,' he said. Earlier in the day, Bhagwat attended the morning 'shakha' at the training camp and later met senior functionaries, including pracharaks, sanghchalaks, sah-pracharaks, and prachar pramukhs. Separate discussions were also held with regional office-bearers. The RSS chief also highlighted the need to increase 'shakhas' in both urban and rural areas and encouraged provincial units to take responsibility for this expansion. Bhagwat, who arrived in Kanpur on Saturday afternoon, will be in the city till June 10. RSS's second-in-command, Dattatreya Hosabale, had addressed the same camp for two days prior to Bhagwat's arrival. Another training camp is being held simultaneously at Meharban Singh ka Purwa, a known Samajwadi Party stronghold that has lately aligned with the BJP. In his Sunday address, Bhagwat also focused on service initiatives in urban slums and urged volunteers to adapt their work according to local needs and conditions.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Age is only a number, says Ramadoss; hints at resolution of conflict with son
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss on Sunday (June 8, 2025) said, 'Age is only a number', reeling out names of popular 'older' politicians such as former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed, suggesting he still has enough fight in him in politics. However, he appeared optimistic about giving 'good news' about the resolution of his conflict with his son Anbumani Ramadoss, which threatens to split the party. Also read: Anbumani not to react to Ramadoss' accusations, plans three-day meet with PMK functionaries Interacting with journalists in Chennai, Dr. Ramadoss confirmed he did meet with RSS ideologue and Thuglak editor S. Gurumurthy again in Chennai (following an earlier meeting in his native town), but refused to reveal whether discussions with him and with Dr. Anbumani, were fruitful. PMK's party constitution Sources in the party said Dr. Ramadoss is seeking larger share of the powers to operate while asking Dr. Anbumani to continue as the 'working president'. Dr. Anbumani has reportedly agreed to allow his father to take the lead in deciding the electoral alliance and negotiating the seats while he wished to remaining as the party's 'president', a post to which he was earlier anointed unanimously. Also read: Making Anbumani a Cabinet Minister was my mistake: PMK founder Ramadoss 'Dr. Ayya (Ramadoss) wants powers to sign Form A and Form B too, which would give him powers over selection of candidates and make appointments. But, Dr. Anbumani wants to be allowed to continue as president and make appointments within the party,' said a senior leader. In the party's bylaws, Rule 13 states that party founder should be invited and his guidance is necessary to call for the general council and executive council meetings. However, Rule 15 explicitly states the party president, appointed by the general council, will head the party's political committee, executive council, general council, and state conference and has the powers to control the party's funds, properties owned by the party and its bank accounts. Rule 12 states that the general council will consist of district presidents, district secretaries, treasurer, vice-president, deputy secretary and area secretaries at the Union, Town Panchayats, municipal corporations and corporations along with representatives from linguistic, religious, and caste-based minorities. The executive council will consist of party president, general secretary, treasurer, organisation secretary, deputy general secretaries, vice-presidents, headquarters secretaries, disciplinary action committee members, property protection group and district presidents and secretaries make up the party's executive council. A senior leader says while it is true that general council has to be held in the presence of the party founder and its affairs conducted under his guidance, it is not binding on the general council to accept his guidance or decisions. 'The president continues to have the powers to appoint office bearers, which makes up the general council. Ultimately, the general council can reject his guidance. This is perhaps why Doctor Ayya began removing and re-appointing district president, secretaries and other office bearers. But, I don't think he (Dr. Ramadoss) has the powers to do it,' he added.
