In a significant moment, the Jawaharlal
Nehru University Students Union or JNUSU elected its first Dalit president from
the Left-backed groups after nearly three decades.
The United Left panel marked a
significant victory in the JNUSU election, outperforming its closest
competitor, the RSS-affiliated ABVP.
Following a hiatus of four years,
Dhananjay from the All India Students’ Association or AISA secured the JNUSU
president’s position with 2,598 votes, surpassing the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi
Parishad’s or ABVP Umesh C Ajmeera, who garnered 1,676 votes.
Hailing from Bihar’s Gaya, Dhananjay is
the first Dalit president from the Left since Batti Lal Bairwa, elected in
1996-97.
Expressing his gratitude, Dhananjay
stated they will “remain committed to advocating for students rights and
addressing their concerns” adding that “the safety of women on campus, fund
cuts, scholarship hike, infrastructural improvements, and addressing water
crisis are among our immediate priorities”.
Amidst chants of ‘Lal Salaam’ and ‘Jai
Bhim’, victorious students were celebrated by their supporters. Red, white, and
blue flags were waved in jubilation.
Avijit Ghosh from the Students’
Federation of India or SFI clinched the vice-president’s post, defeating ABVP’s
Deepika Sharma by 927 votes, with Ghosh receiving 2,409 votes against Sharma’s
1,482.
Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’
Association-BAPSA candidate Priyanshi Arya, backed by the Left, secured the
general secretary’s position by defeating ABVP’s Arjun Anand by 926 votes, with
Arya polling 2,887 votes compared to Anand’s 1961.
Mohammad Sajid from the Left secured the
joint secretary’s post, prevailing over ABVP’s Govind Dangi by 508 votes,
marking the narrowest victory margin among the four winners.
With the Left panel sweeping the polls,
JNU affirmed its reputation as a Left stronghold. Initially, the ABVP led in
all four central panel posts, presenting a formidable challenge.
The United Left panel, comprising AISA,
Democratic Students’ Federation or DSF, Students’ Federation of India-SFI, and
the All India Students’ Federation-AISF, orchestrated a compelling victory.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students
Union polls boasted a remarkable voter turnout of 73 per cent, the highest in
the last 12 years.
