New Delhi: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections in Delhi saw a sweeping victory for the Left groups when results were announced on Sunday (March 24) night, with all four key positions – president, vice-president, general secretary and joint secretary – won by Left-backed candidates. This victory marked a defeat for the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-supported Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
With Dhananjay’s election, the JNUSU is seeing a Dalit president after 27 years. Avijit Ghosh of the Students Federation of India (SFI) secured the vice-president’s position, while Priyanshi Arya of the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA), supported by Left organisations following the cancellation of Swati Singh’s nomination, won the general secretary post. Sajid Asif of the All India Students Federation (AISF) was elected as joint secretary.
The elections saw a record 73% voter turnout, the highest in 12 years, indicating significant student engagement. This election was held in JNU after four years. The main battle was between the Left students’ groups and the ABVP. The panel of left organisations included AISA, SFI, DSF and AISF. Samajwadi Chhatra Sangh, NSUI, CRJD, Disha and other independent candidates also participated in the election.
Mohammad Sajid of AISF during the counting of votes.
School of International Studies where the counting of votes was taking place and the crowd of students outside.
A Disha poster outside the counting centre.
Priyanshi Arya of BAPSA outside the counting centre.
BAPSA poster outside the counting centre.
Students of NSUI were present during the presidential debate.
Dhananjay, who won the JNUSU election as president, speaking at the presidential debate.
Students of the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha during the presidential debate.
AISA students during the counting of votes.
All photos by Atul Ashok Howale.
