New Delhi

The Left alliance secured a resounding victory over the BJP's student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in India's Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Students' Union elections held on Sunday (Mar 24).

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The alliance clinched all four central seats—president, vice president, general secretary, and joint secretary—in a contest marked by heightened political fervour.

Dhananjay emerges victorious

Dhananjay, a doctoral candidate hailing from eastern state of Bihar, emerged victorious as the president of JNUSU, marking a historic win for the All India Students' Association (AISA) and its allies.

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The JNUSU polls, held after a gap of four years, witnessed the participation of students amid intense ideological debates, a signature of the campus.

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The Left coalition, comprising groups such as AISA, the Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF), the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), rallied against the ABVP.

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A total of 19 candidates vied for positions on the central panel of JNUSU, with the presidential race featuring eight contenders.

Dhananjay secured a decisive victory with 2,598 votes, surpassing his ABVP rival Umesh C Ajmeera, who garnered 1,676 votes.

Other student union posts won by the Left alliance too

In other key victories for the Left, Avijit Ghosh secured the vice president's post by defeating Deepika Sharma of the ABVP with a margin of 927 votes.

Priyanshi Arya, supported by the Left, clinched the general secretary's position by defeating ABVP's Arjun Anand by 926 votes.

Mohammad Sajid emerged victorious as the joint secretary, defeating ABVP's Govind Dangi by 508 votes.

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Hailing from Bihar's Gaya, Dhananjay's election marks a significant milestone as he is the first Dalit president of JNUSU since Batti Lal Bairwa's tenure in 1996.

Throughout his campaign, Dhananjay focused on issues such as the impact of Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) loans on increased fees, campus infrastructure, and the release of detained student leaders facing sedition charges.

(With inputs from agencies)