JNUSU Election Sees Lowest Turnout Since COVID

The recent JNUSU elections in New Delhi recorded a voter turnout of 67%, reflecting a decline from 70% in April and 73% in 2024. This marks one of the lowest participation levels since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing a decrease in student engagement.

Polling Details and Delays

Voting took place in two phases: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM. However, several polling booths opened late due to the delayed arrival of polling agents. The second phase extended beyond the scheduled cut-off time as students continued to queue for their turn to vote.

Student Concerns and Issues Addressed

Among the voters, many expressed their concerns through their choices. A group of Kashmiri Muslim girl students stated they supported candidates advocating for inclusivity, fellowship programs, and issues like the rollback of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, as well as rising fees. Keshav Kumar, a first-year BA student from the Russian Studies department, emphasized the importance of infrastructure, noting the deficiencies in reading room availability, hostel conditions, and sanitation.

Students with disabilities also shared their experiences. One anonymous student remarked on the good effort made with accessible booths but highlighted the need for improved systems to handle crowd management. Another first-year student with a disability expressed enthusiasm regarding the electoral process.

Campus Atmosphere and Election Violations

The atmosphere on campus was charged with energy, as slogans called out by students echoed around the area, and flags of various student organizations were flown proudly. Despite the vibrant environment, several election violations were observed.

• Outsiders and students from other universities were reportedly seen campaigning within the campus, breaching conduct guidelines.
• Polling booths were found littered with printed campaign materials, which are prohibited according to JNUSU election rules.

The regulations specify that only handmade posters and photocopies of manifestos are permissible, banning professional printing and mass distribution without prior approval.

Election Scale and Results Anticipation

This year’s election saw a significant scale, with 9,045 eligible voters, up from 7,906 in previous polls. Voting occurred across 17 booths on campus. Notably, women comprised 30% of the 20 candidates running for central panel positions and 25% of the 111 nominations for councillors.

The results of the elections are anticipated to be announced on Thursday. Currently, the JNUSU leadership features three posts held by Left-affiliated groups and one by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). With the Left returning in alliance, they challenge the ABVP, which secured one post in the previous elections following internal splits.