ABVP Makes History in JNU Elections, Breaking Leftist Dominance

Vaibhav Meena, a 27-year-old PhD scholar from Rajasthan, has made history by becoming the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) first joint secretary in JNU in nearly a decade. Meena’s victory marks a significant shift in the political landscape of the university, traditionally dominated by leftist groups.

From Call Centre to Campus Politics

Meena’s journey is an inspiring tale of determination. He hails from a humble background, the son of tribal farmers, and worked at call centres to fund his education. This experience, he says, fueled his passion for social upliftment and motivated him to enter student politics.

ABVP’s Resurgence in JNU

The ABVP’s success in the recent JNU student union elections, where they secured 23 out of 42 councillor seats, has sent shockwaves through the campus. They made inroads into traditionally Left-leaning schools, a testament to their growing influence. The last time the ABVP held a central panel seat was in 2015-16.

A New Era for JNU?

Meena’s victory comes with high expectations. He aims to improve academic quality, infrastructure, and democratic discourse on campus, areas where the ABVP has criticized the previous Left-led administration. Meena is confident about navigating the politically charged environment, stating, ‘The Left has been dominant for a decade, but still, look at the campus and its deteriorating infrastructure. They couldn’t make anything better. This is my goal: to make JNU better for students and to save it from the ‘deshdrohi’ image that the Left is responsible for.'”

Beyond JNU: A Political Future?

Meena’s ambition extends beyond JNU’s campus. He envisions a future in active politics, continuing his work with the Vidyarthi Parishad to uplift society.

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