DUSU records 45 pc voter turnout, 56 pc vote in JNU

Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University held their student union elections on Friday.

While voter turnout in DU is similar to last year, between 40 and 45 per cent, JNUSU saw 56 per cent turnout, less than last year.

“DUSU results will be declared by 2 pm on Saturday since polling was less. Although we begin at 8 am, if there is no objection and everything goes as planned, the results will be out by afternoon,” said Ashok Vohra, chief election officer.

According to a JNUSU election committee member, counting for the councillors’ posts for various schools will start and the results of the central panel will be declared by Saturday.
The member felt that the All India Students’ Association (AISA) will do well this year too. The Democratic Students’ Federation too is being backed by students.

“The remaining Left-oriented groups are in the same position and it is expected that Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and National Students’ Union of India will win a majority of councillor posts in Science schools,” the committee member said.

Members of DU’s two dominant parties, ABVP and NSUI, said this much polling turnout was not expected this year.

Polls to college unions

Apart from DUSU, student union elections were also held for some college unions.
“Several of our party members who contested for student union elections of colleges have won. We have won in Khasla College for girls, Shyama Prasad Mukherji College for Women, Vivekanand College, Bhagini Nivedita College, among others. These results are a reflection of voters’ mood. The rest we will see on Saturday. The counting should be transparent and voting data of various colleges, which used to be given before, is stopped now. We don’t know when we are being cheated,” said Saket Bahuguna, ABVP’s media coordinator.

NSUI spokesperson Amrish Ranjan Pandey said that the apart from Miranda House in North Campus, their party members or affiliated members have won college elections.
“We have also won in colleges like Laxmibai, Rajdhani, Shivaji, Shyamlal and Vivekanand Women’s College, among others,” he said.

During the entire day of polling, while DU was barricaded with heavy police presence, with pamphlets thrown all over the campus, JNU polling areas had student organisations shouting slogans and handing over pamphlets to those entering polling booths.

Mob mentality

“I am extremely excited as I am witnessing JNUSU elections for the first time. Although I do not agree to the mob mentality of Left politics on the campus, some of the points new Left organisations have raised, such as focusing on reservations and minorities, should be given a chance,” said Vanshika Mishra, MA student of International Studies.

“Although NSUI tried to bash up Left politics on the campus, they did not come out with any new idea of alternative politics. I still have not made up my mind, but it will be a new party for which I will vote,” said Mishra.