New Delhi [India]: The Left alliance continued its stronghold at the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections for 2024-25, winning three of the four top posts, even as the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) made significant inroads.
Election Results and Key Winners
- Nitish Kumar (AISA) was elected President.
- Manisha (DSF) secured the post of Vice-President.
- Munteha Fatima (DSF) clinched the General Secretary position.
- Vaibhav Meena (ABVP) won the Joint Secretary post, marking ABVP’s first central panel victory in a decade.
For much of the counting day, ABVP candidates led across all four central panel positions, signaling a strong challenge to the traditionally Left-leaning campus. Though they ultimately fell short in the major posts, the narrow margins of defeat hinted at a shifting political landscape at JNU.
Historic Gains for ABVP
In the councillor elections, ABVP made history by winning 23 out of 42 seats — its best performance since 1999.
The organization swept the School of Engineering and made substantial gains in the Schools of Social Sciences, International Studies, and Sanskrit and Indic Studies.
Leaders and supporters of ABVP hailed the results as a “turning point,” citing the strong showing at both central and school levels as momentum for future contests.
Voter Turnout and Election Background
Despite the elections being postponed from April 18 to April 25 due to incidents of campus violence, there was an enthusiastic turnout of nearly 70%, with approximately 5,500 students casting their votes.
The contest was primarily four-cornered, with the AISA-DSF alliance, ABVP, and an NSUI-Fraternity alliance fielding full panels.
Leaders’ Reactions
Newly elected President Nitish Kumar (AISA) pledged,
“We will work for the students and their welfare. The aim is to ensure that the voice of every student is heard and respected.”
Vice President Manisha (DSF) declared,
“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 so.”
General Secretary Munteha Fatima (DSF) emphasized,
“We will continue to fight for the rights of the students, as we have always done.”
Meanwhile, Vaibhav Meena (ABVP), newly elected Joint Secretary, reflected,
“We have won this after a decade, and ABVP will win all four seats in the next election. This victory is a stepping stone for further successes.”