The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections commenced today, with polling starting at 9 am and scheduled to conclude at 5:30 pm, excluding a break from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. The elections are marked by intense competition between the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Left Unity alliance, which has centered its campaign around the themes of “performance and nationalism” versus “inclusion, accessibility, and student welfare,” respectively.
Candidates for the Presidency
The ABVP has nominated Vikas Patel for the president’s role, while Left Unity, which includes the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and the Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF), has put forward Aditi Mishra as its candidate. Other contenders for the presidency include Angad Singh, Raj Ratan Rajoriya, Shinde Vijayalaxmi Vyankat Rao, Shirshava Indu, and Vikash.
Vice-President Candidates
For the vice-president position, ABVP has selected Tanya Kumari, while Left Unity has nominated Kizhakoot Gopika Babu. Shaikh Shahnawaz Alam is also in the running for this role.
General Secretary Candidates
In the race for general secretary, Left Unity’s candidate is Sunil Yadav, while ABVP has nominated Rajeshwar Kant Dubey. Additional candidates include Gopi Krishnan U, Preeti, and Shuaib Khan.
Joint Secretary Candidates
Danish Ali represents Left Unity for the joint secretary position, while Anuj is the candidate from ABVP. Kuldeep Ojha, Manmohan Mitruka, and Ravi Raj are also competing for this role.
According to the election committee, approximately 9,043 students are eligible to vote this year. Notably, women candidates comprise around 30 percent of nominations for the central panel and 25 percent for school councillor positions.
Contentious Campaigning
Aditi Mishra, a PhD scholar from the School of International Studies, highlighted that the elections occur “at a time when dissent and equality are under threat,” pledging to uphold “an inclusive JNU that remains accessible to all.” In contrast, Vikas Patel from ABVP accused the Left of “ruling and ruining JNU for five decades,” asserting that students are seeking “accountability and solution-oriented politics.”
Danish Ali, campaigning for joint secretary from Left Unity, alleged that “Dalits and Muslims are facing continuous attacks across the country” and criticized ABVP for introducing “divisive politics” within the campus. At a student gathering, she remarked, “We must stand against casteism and Islamophobia and defend democratic spaces in universities.”
Conversely, ABVP contended that it has “strengthened its position” within JNU and described the Left alliance as “in disarray.”
Election Timeline
Vote counting is set to commence at 9 pm, with results anticipated to be announced on November 6. In the previous year’s elections, AISA’s Nitish Kumar won the presidency, while ABVP’s Vaibhav Meena secured the joint secretary post, marking a historic shift in JNU campus politics after a decade of limited success for the right-wing group.
