A United Left on Sunday won against the ABVP in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students' Union elections, winning all four central seats that went to polls -- president, vice president, general secretary and joint secretary. Notably, United Left comprised left-backed groups like All India Students’ Association (AISA), Democratic Students Federation (DSF), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association won against ABVP.
The ABVP was heading towards a sweep at one point in time, which surprised many, but as the counting progressed, the Left increased their numbers and eventually secured all four posts.
In the elections conducted after a 4-year COVID hiatus, the United Left alliance comprising AISA, DSF, SFI, AISF, and BAPSA contested the elections in alliance against ABVP.
A total of 19 candidates contested for positions on the central panel of JNUSU, with eight candidates in the fray for the post of president.
PRESIDENT
Dhananjay (Left)- 3,100
Umesh Chandra Ajmeera (ABVP)- 2,118
VICE PRESIDENT
Avijit Ghosh (Left)- 2,762
Deepika Sharma (ABVP)- 1,848
GENERAL SECRETARY
Arjun Anand (ABVP) – 2,4,12
Priyanshi Arya (BAPSA, Left Supported) – 3,440
JOINT SECRETARY
Govind Dangi (ABVP) – 2,591
Mo Sajid (Left) – 3,035
Ever since JNU was established in 1969, left-wing student organisations, specifically the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), have had a strong influence on student politics.