New Delhi: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad has raised serious concerns regarding the impartiality and transparency of the student union elections at Jawaharlal Nehru University, demanding that the JNUSU elections be conducted strictly in accordance with constitutional norms. ABVP JNU has asserted that the Election Committee, instead of fulfilling its role as an impartial electoral institution, has for several years operated as a protector of the interests of left-leaning student organisations. This biased conduct has not only undermined democratic values but also deeply affected the faith of the entire student community.
Election Malpractices by JNU EC in Recent Years
2017
During the JNUSU elections, the Election Committee failed to ensure neutrality even during the presidential debate — a key democratic event. ABVP candidates were repeatedly disrupted and prevented from speaking, with orchestrated chaos sabotaging their statements, while left-affiliated candidates were given uninterrupted and sympathetic space to speak.
2018
The principle of transparency was blatantly violated when the vote counting process began in the absence of ABVP’s counting agents. This procedural violation called into question the integrity and fairness of the entire election process.
2019
That year, the Election Committee failed to disclose how many ballots were printed and how many were actually used in voting. The lack of clarity and transparency over this discrepancy cast serious doubts over the legitimacy of the elections.
2024
In the post-COVID student union elections, the influence of leftist groups was again evident. From the School of Languages to other faculties, procedural irregularities were rampant. The appointment of EC members closely affiliated with leftist organizations rendered the entire election process biased. At every stage — from scrutiny to counting — procedural violations were carried out to favour one side.
2025
The current student union election process has made the EC’s bias even more apparent. As per the rules, the deadline to withdraw nominations was 16 April. However, under pressure from leftist groups, the EC unconstitutionally extended the deadline to 17 April. Moreover, the withdrawal time on 17 April was arbitrarily extended from 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM, and again on 18 April, even after releasing the final candidate list without any prior notice, another half-hour extension was granted to enable changes that suited the leftist factions.
This was done explicitly to resolve internal disagreements between AISA and SFI and help them field a unified leftist front in the elections.
When students and other organizations protested this blatant manipulation, the EC abruptly put the entire election process on hold — clearly revealing that its priority is not fairness, but the protection of leftist political interests.
ABVP Demands the Following:
1. The election process must be conducted strictly as per the predetermined dates and rules.
2. The Election Committee must be reconstituted to include neutral, non-political, and unbiased members.
3. Strict disciplinary action must be taken against individuals responsible for violating election norms.
4. The democratic spirit of JNU must be protected from being held hostage by leftist political forces.
5. No changes should be made to the final list of candidates that was previously issued by the Election Committee in accordance with constitutional procedures, and the election process should immediately proceed on the basis of that list without any further delay.
ABVP JNU Unit President Rajeshwar Kant Dubey stated, “For years, the JNU Election Committee has functioned as an enabler of political privileges for left-leaning groups. This is not only a betrayal of democratic values but also tarnishes the university’s reputation. ABVP strongly opposes this unfair and conspiratorial conduct and will continue to work toward ensuring a free, fair, and transparent election process in JNU.”
