The United Left parties swept the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) elections on Sunday, an event which also saw the university electing its first Dalit president from the Left-backed groups after nearly three decades.
The United Left panel defeated its nearest rival the RSS-affiliated ABVP. The polls happened after a break of four years.
The United Left panel comprises AISA, the Democratic Students' Federation (DSF), the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students' Federation (AISF).
Dhananjay from the Left was chosen as the President, beating ABVP's Umesh Chandra Ajmeera. "For the post of President, the names of the candidates are Dhananjay (Left)- 2598 votes, Umesh Chandra Ajmeera (ABVP)- 1676 votes. I declare Dhananjay (Left) elected," JNU election committee chairperson Shailendra Kumar said.
While Avijit Ghosh, also from the Left, won the Vice President's seat with 2,409 votes, defeating ABVP's Deepika Sharma, Priyanshi Arya, supported by the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA), became the general secretary after getting 2,887 votes.
The Left's Mohammad Sajid won the joint secretary's post by defeating ABVP's Govind Dangi by 508 votes. His was the lowest victory among all the four winners.
The campus erupted in celebration as the results were announced. Winners and supporters chanted 'Lal Salaam' and 'Jai Bhim as red, white and blue flags were waved by the students to celebrate the victory of the candidates.
Who is Dhananjay?
Hailing from Gaya in Bihar, Dhananjay became the first Dalit president from the Left after Batti Lal Bairwa, who was elected in 1996-97.
"This victory is a referendum by the students of JNU that they reject the politics of hate and violence. The students have once again shown their trust in us. We will continue to fight for their rights and work on issues that concern students," he told PTI.
"The safety of women on campus, fund cuts, scholarship hike, infrastructural and water crisis are among the top priorities of the students union to begin with," Dhananjay added.
During his campaign, Dhananjay spoke about the increased fees due to Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) loans taken by universities. He also promised to tackle water, health, and infrastructure-related issues on campus and demanded the release of student leaders detained under sedition charges.
Amid cries of 'Lal Salaam' and 'Jai Bhim', the winning students were hailed by their supporters. Red, white and blue flags were waved by the students to celebrate the victory of the candidates.
With the Left panel sweeping the polls, the JNU lived up to its reputation of being a Left bastion. The ABVP gave a neck-and-neck fight and was leading on all four central panel posts in the initial trends.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union polls on Friday witnessed a voter turnout of 73 per cent, highest in the last 12 years.