Left Wins Big in JNU Elections, ABVP Makes a Powerful Comeback
Left Alliance Holds Strong at JNU, ABVP Makes History
The Left alliance continued its dominance in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)’s Students’ Union elections, securing three out of the four top posts for the 2024-25 academic year. But the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) made a major comeback, breaking a decade-long losing streak and shaking up the traditional power dynamic on campus.
Nitish Kumar from the All India Students Association (AISA) was elected President, Manisha from the Democratic Students’ Front (DSF) won the Vice-President position, and Munteha Fatima from the DSF secured the General Secretary role. This was a significant victory for the Left, who have long held sway over JNU.
However, the ABVP’s Vaibhav Meena emerged victorious in the Joint Secretary race, marking a historic win for the organization after a decade of not holding any central panel positions. This was a major turning point in campus politics, with the ABVP showing its strength and challenging the Left’s dominance.
A Tense Battle and a Strong Turnout
The elections, held on April 25 after a delay due to campus violence, saw a high voter turnout of nearly 70%. Around 5,500 students cast their ballots in a four-cornered contest involving AISA-DSF, ABVP, and an alliance between the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the Fraternity.
Throughout the day, ABVP candidates led in all four central panel positions, signaling a possible shift in power. Though they ultimately fell short in the President, Vice-President, and General Secretary races, their narrow defeats showed that they were gaining ground.
ABVP’s Resurgence: A Historic Showing
In the councillor elections, the ABVP made history by winning 23 out of 42 seats—their best performance since 1999! They swept the School of Engineering and made significant gains in other schools like Social Sciences, International Studies, Sanskrit and Indic Studies. This widespread success for the ABVP injected fresh energy into campus politics.
Leaders and supporters celebrated the results as a “turning point,” highlighting both the strong central panel showing and the expansion at the school and centre levels.
A Commitment to Student Rights
Newly elected leaders from both the Left alliance and the ABVP expressed their commitment to representing the interests of the students and fighting for their rights. Nitish Kumar, the new President, assured students: “We will work for the students and their welfare. The aim is to ensure that the voice of every student is heard and respected.”
Manisha, the new Vice President, credited the win to the university and JNU’s longstanding association with the Left: “The credit for this win goes to the university… JNU laal tha aur laal hi rahega… We always worked for the students and raised their voices, and we will continue doing this work in the future too.”
Munteha Fatima, the new General Secretary, emphasized their commitment to fighting for student rights. Vaibhav Meena, the newly elected Joint Secretary for the ABVP, reflected on the significance of his victory, stating: “We have won this after a decade, and ABVP will win all the four seats in the next election. This victory is a stepping stone for further successes.”
Looking Ahead
The 2024-25 elections at JNU have demonstrated a dynamic shift in campus politics. The Left alliance remains strong, but the ABVP’s resurgence signals a changing landscape. The upcoming year promises to be an exciting one, with these two organizations vying for influence and representing the diverse voices of the student body.
