'Left Unity' is this year's moto for JNUSU elections

‘Left Unity’ is this year’s the motto for Jawaharlal Nehru University student union polls, where left parties have decided to come together and fight elections.

Students filed nominations for the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) on Wednesday. Many individual candidates were hopeful for a post. Election commissioner will declare the final list after withdrawal of nominations on Thursday.

Student Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students Association (AISA) decided to come together this year. Democratic Student’s Federation (DSF), another left party, was not allowed to enter the bond in spite of its interest in the unity with the left.

“We were not granted this unity because we opposed JNUSU on the way they handled the rape of a student by AISA member, Anmol Ratan,” said a DSF member.

The DSF member also said they will still put only one candidate for presidential so that the vote for the left does not get divided.

Birsa-Ambedkar-Phule Student Association (BAPSA) decided not to join left and but to contest elections. BAPSA is contesting elections for the second time.

Rahul from BAPSA, who is preparing for presidency told Deccan Herald that the left parties approached them to join, but BAPSA refused.

“We are concentrating on minority issues. Our vision is Dalit and Muslim unity. We don’t want to see this only as campus elections. We want our members to prepare for nation-wide elections where one can envision the problems occurring in the outside world,” he explained referring to the incident in Una village in Gir Somnath district where there was a public lashing of Dalit men for skinning a dead cow.

Competition

Parties put as many members as possible for all posts. Student groups may decide amongst themselves at night about who should withdraw so that the competition is cut down further and one party has more chances of winning a seat in central panel, for president, vice president, secretary or joint secretary.

There are 35 posts, four for central and others for councillor’s post.  AISA has proposed five to six of its members for presidential candidacy, whereas, Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has decided 15.

Students assembled at Tefla’s in JNU at 9.30 am, in the tents which were allotted to student parties. Till 5 pm students filled in their nomination forms.

Parmeet Kajal, an individual candidate, contesting for councillor’s position in School of International Studies said, “I know 160 people from my department who have approached me and told me to contest elections this year. Since councillors are elected only by departments individually, I do not fear any competition,” said Kajal.

Many candidates will not be enlisted tomorrow because of issues in their certificates or documents. Some will also withdraw because they will change their mind, said Salonee Shital from AISA, standing for councillor.

Presidential debate will be held on September 7 and polls are due on September 9.