JNU Painted Red Again, Yet ABVP Celebrates Its Own Defeat
Left wins all four seats in JNUSU polls, but ABVP claims it has won “ideologically, morally and even numerically.”
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It’s a clean sweep for the Left in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union elections, with the alliance of the SFI, AISA and DSF winning all four seats.
The BJP-backed ABVP finished runners up in each of the races, but its presidential candidate Nidhi Tripathi claimed that the ABVP had clinched “the ideological, moral and numerical victory in the polls”. BAPSA was not far behind at third place.
Counting continued well past midnight and the final results only came in around 3 am on Sunday, 10 September. Yet despite the late hour, hundreds of JNU students were present outside the counting centre when the overall tally was announced. Waving red and white flags in the air, supporters of the Left unity alliance erupted in celebrations, dancing to the beats of the dhol (some used plastic bottles to drum away).
ABVP Claims 'Real Victory'
Nidhi Tripathi, ABVP presidential candidate, told The Quint:
Confused? We asked Tripathi what she meant by her statement.
“It is the strength of ABVP’s ideology that has forced so many Left student groups to make an alliance. The sole purpose of their alliance is to defeat the ABVP,” she said. “Why do they not have the guts to contest separately? I challenge them to do so. ABVP is the most popular student group in JNU.”
We took this contention by the ABVP to the winning presidential candidate, Geeta Kumari of the Left alliance. Kumari just laughed. “Khud ko khush karne ke liye kuch toh bolna padega (After all, they have to say something to console themselves)”.
JNU Goes "Give Me Red"
Geeta Kumari will replace Mohit Pandey, also from the Left, as the new JNUSU president. Asked about whether she expects as turbulent a tenure as her predecessor, Kumari replies, “Of course it will be as tough a run. The administration won’t discriminate between Mohit and me”. She breaks into a laugh.
Her top priorities as she steps into the shoes of the JNUSU president?
“The Najeeb case. It should be handled properly by the CBI and not in the lethargic manner the Delhi Police handled it. The seat cut issue is another priority, it’s an example of the Vice-Chancellor’s autocratic style of functioning. Also, we will work to save the autonomy of the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment institute.”
BAPSA: Happy to Be Growing
The Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association was formed a mere three years ago and has grown steadily ever since.
Last year, BAPSA presidential candidate Rahul Sonpimple gave the Left’s Mohit Pandey a run for his money. Sonpimple finished at second place, comfortably ahead of the ABVP candidate.
Shabana Ali, BAPSA’s presidential candidate this year, finished in third place. But she’s upbeat about the young student group’s overall performance.
“Not getting a seat in JNUSU is not as surprising because we are contesting against old, established organisations but what is very satisfying for us is that we have managed to perform well in the race for each post this year. Our votebank has increased tremendously. Last year, we fared well only in the presidential contest. This year, that has expanded to all contests.”
"Expect More Altercations"
Outgoing JNUSU president Mohit Pandey is certain that if there’s one thing that won’t change about the students union, it’s the continuous run-ins that they will have with the administration.
“Last year, we were fined for organising protests on students’ issues. For example, they did not even allow my registration this semester. As a result, I haven’t even been able to cast my vote in these polls. The JNU administration is at loggerheads with the students and the JNUSU. This struggle will continue, that is for sure.”
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