As the JNUSU elections approach on November 4, the two major student outfits, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Left alliance comprising All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF), have released their slates for the four-member central panel, raising the stakes in the university’s student-union contest.
Two big blocs announce contrasting slates
The ABVP has fielded Vikas Patel (President), Tanya Kumari (Vice-President), Rajeshwar Kant Dubey (General Secretary) and Anuj (Joint Secretary), according to their campaign release, according to a latest PTI report.
ALSO READ | DRDO inks 12 technology-transfer deals with industry partners under “Make in India” push
All four are research scholars at JNU, signalling the ABVP’s push to deepen its foothold among postgraduate students. On the other side, the Left Alliance (AISA-SFI-DSF) has nominated Aditi Mishra (PhD scholar, School of International Studies) for President, Kizhakoot Gopika Babu for Vice-President, Sunil Yadav for General Secretary and Danish Ali for Joint Secretary. With these announcements, the two factions enter a straight-up race ahead of the polling day.
Campaign heats up ahead of Nov 4 voting
With just days to go before the vote on November 4, student groups have kicked off door-to-door outreach in hostels, academic blocks and common rooms. They are hosting corner meetings, debates, and poster campaigns emphasising issues such as student welfare, hostel shortages, research funding, campus safety and academic infrastructure.
ALSO READ | IB Security Assistant Motor Transport admit card 2025 now out: Here's step-by-step guide
According to the election committee, there are approximately 9,043 eligible voters this year, and about 30% of central panel nominations and 25% of school-councillor nominations are from women, highlighting growing gender representation. The winning margin in last year’s polls was narrow, with the Left securing three of the four panel posts and ABVP winning the joint-secretary position for the first time in nearly ten years.
As the JNU campus prepares for polling day, both blocs will hope to sway the student electorate with manifestos and leaders’ visits, making the 2025-26 JNUSU elections one of the most closely watched student polls.
