Irregularities in JNUSU Election Process and Student Protests During Left-Wing Violence
New Delhi : During the recent General Body Meeting (GBM) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), the university’s democratic process was consistently violated by the JNUSU President and left-wing groups. Students and elected councilors protested on several occasions, but their voices were ignored.
On October 14, the General Body meeting held at the School of International Studies (SIS) witnessed widespread chaos and disruption. The JNUSU President arbitrarily adjourned the meeting abruptly. General students and elected councilors protested this process, but their objections were ignored. On October 17, the same group reconvened the General Body Meeting without notice or quorum and unilaterally appointed the Executive Committee members.
On October 15, the GBM at the School of Social Sciences (SSS) lasted for nearly 17 hours, but no democratic decisions were made. On October 17, the GBM suddenly resumed, and Left representatives began directly appointing executive committee members, despite protests from general students and elected councilors. Despite this protest, the Left group ignored the students and unilaterally announced the executive committee members.
On October 16, the executive committee appointment at the School of Language, Literature, and Cultural Studies (SLL&CS) was completed in just five minutes. Even during this period, general students and elected councilors protested, but their protests were ignored, and the executive committee members were unilaterally announced. This process also witnessed violence and crimes by the Left group, including pressure and threats against students.
These incidents clearly demonstrate that the JNUSU President is acting arbitrarily and that the Left group continues to suppress democracy through violence. Both ordinary students and elected councilors protested, but they were ignored. Such actions are against JNUSU rules and the university’s democratic traditions.
Vaibhav Meena, Joint Secretary, JNUSU: “We will absolutely not accept this unfair and undemocratic election process. We and the elected councilors have repeatedly raised our voices, but our complaints have fallen on deaf ears. If the university administration does not intervene soon and ensure that the process is transparent and regulated, we are preparing for a peaceful, organized, widespread protest and movement. Our sole objective is to ensure that the elections are conducted through fully democratic processes and that student rights are protected. We will take every possible step to ensure this.”
Praveen Piyush, Secretary, ABVP JNU: “The arbitrary and predatory appointments being made by the JNUSU President and the Left faction are a direct violation of the democratic rights of students. The protests of elected councilors and ordinary students have been repeatedly ignored. We want to make it clear that Election Commission elections should only be held through a transparent and regulated GBM. If the administration does not intervene in time, we will take strict action to protect the students and JNU’s democracy.”
Mayank Panchal, President, ABVP JNU: “Such undemocratic processes are creating chaos and resentment on campus. If the administration continues to ignore this, the resentment among ordinary students may increase and the situation could become serious. We assert that every possible step will be taken to protect student participation and democracy in JNU.”