JNUSU polls: Left sweeps top three posts, but ABVP breaches Red Fort with Joint Secretary win

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) election results were announced in the wee hours of today, signalling both continuity and change in the political landscape of the campus, famously called the 'Red Fort' of Left ideology. While the Left alliance managed to retain three of the four key posts, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) made a significant comeback by clinching the post of Joint Secretary, marking its first entry into the students' union, breaking the decade-long drought spell.

 

The results have sparked celebration among the Right wings, which views this as the beginning of a political shift and victory in their fight against anti-establishment, even as the Left, despite its overall victory, grapples with the symbolic breach of its dominance.

 

Nitish Kumar from the All India Students' Association (AISA) was elected for the President post after securing 1,702 votes, whereas Shikha Swaraj from  ABVP gave a close competition by securing 1,430 votes in total. Manisha from the Democratic Students Federation (DSF) won the Vice-President's post, and Munteha Fatima (DSF) secured the position of General Secretary. The ABVP made a comeback after almost ten years by winning the post of Joint Secretary, where Vaibhav Meena emerged victorious.

 

Amidst the sound of drums, slogans of ‘Laal Salam’, and celebrations across campus, a sense of uneasiness can be felt within the Left faction. Despite winning the top three positions, the Left is unable to comprehend ABVP’s victory, which has somewhat dampened the celebrations. On the other hand, the ABVP is hopeful, calling this win ‘historic’ and a challenge against the ‘dominance and authoritarianism of Left’.

 

Newly elected JNUSU Joint Secretary Vaibhav Meena stated, "This victory is the first  and formidable step towards building a JNU where every student receives an environment of equal opportunity, and respect, and fosters  commitment to the nation."

 

ABVP JNU unit President Rajeshwar Kant Dubey, highlighting the importance of this victory, said, “This is a democratic revolution against the so-called ideological tyranny established by the Left for years in JNU.”

 

Meanwhile, the Left, though happy about the victory, has also acknowledged the significance of the ABVP's entry, reminding the JNU campus about what transpired the last time ABVP came to power in 2015. “The last time ABVP won any central panel post was in 2015-16, when Saurav Sharma was elected as the Joint Secretary and they lead the movement to #ShutDownJNU, termed JNU students anti-national and made an all-out assault on the educational rights of students and perpetrated violence in campus”, remarked AISA-DSF in their official statement. 

 

The JNUSU election results this year have reignited the old political tensions and hopes on campus. While the Left celebrates holding the major positions, ABVP’s breach in the Left bastion after a decade has introduced a fresh dynamic into JNU’s political narrative. While both sides are gearing up for an ideologically charged year ahead, the campus is set to witness renewed debates, challenges, and shifts, keeping alive JNU's legacy as a fiercely contested space for political and ideological expression.

India