In a significant development, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) has elected its first Dalit president from the Left-backed groups in nearly three decades, marking a setback to the Hindutva-led communal policies of the BJP government in India.
Dhananjay from the All India Students’ Association (AISA) secured victory in the JNUSU president’s election by obtaining 2,598 votes, defeating Umesh C Ajmeera of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of BJP affiliated with the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), who secured 1,676 votes.
Hailing from Gaya, Bihar, Dhananjay becomes the first Dalit president from the Left since Batti Lal Bairwa, who was elected in 1996-97.
The United Left panel, comprising AISA, Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), achieved a comprehensive victory in the JNUSU election, defeating the ABVP.
Avijit Ghosh from the SFI clinched the vice-president’s post, Priyanshi Arya of Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association (BAPSA) won the general secretary post, and Mohammad Sajid from the Left secured the joint secretary’s post.
The Left’s triumph underscores the enduring support for left-wing politics in JNU. Despite putting up a strong fight, the ABVP, the student wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), faced defeat.
The JNUSU polls recorded a remarkable voter turnout of 73 percent, the highest in the past 12 years.—INP
