A call for unity ahead of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) poll given by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) to form a united front to defeat what they allege is an attack to “shutdown JNU” and “shutdown JNUSU” by the RSS-BJP government-administration nexus did not materialise.
The All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association (BAPSA) have put up their own presidential candidates and many students on campus feel that this move may give the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) an advantage by splitting votes.
‘Progressive unity’
The SFI had made an appeal to “all progressive organisations on campus to contemplate forming a broader progressive unity in the upcoming polls”.
In its appeal, the SFI had written “At this juncture, when we are at the receiving end of a systematic attack... it would be criminal to spend energy bickering amongst each other.”
The United Left Panel was formed by the SFI, All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF). The AISF, which would have been a natural ally, chose to stay away from the alliance. The organisation felt that the outgoing JNUSU panel was unable to mobilise students effectively to run a mass student movement required when the university was facing a multi-pronged attack.
Presidential post issue
However, sources said the alliance did not work out as AISF presidential candidate Aparajitha Raja wanted to be the nominee for the post of president in the United Left Panel, a condition that was unacceptable to those forming the alliance.
BAPSA, which made its debut in the 2016 JNUSU polls and saw a glimpse of success with its presidential candidate Rahul Sonpimple making a mark in the presidential debate, also chose to stay out of the alliance. BAPSA presidential candidate Shabana Ali said the Left parties were giving a call for unity not to defeat the ABVP but to attack and suppress the voices of the oppressed.
Gaining prominence
“The AISA-SFI did not respect the seat of JNUSU. They did not lead the struggle for [missing student] Najeeb Ahmed or the struggle against the change in admission procedure. The have failed to defeat fascist forces,” said Ms. Ali.
BAPSA has over the past two years seen several students rallying behind them leading to an “Ambedkarite uprising”, that gained prominence during the Rohit Vemula movement, Una movement and Bhim Army movement. BAPSA is emerging as a force that may shatter the Left versus Right binary that has set the tone for the JNUSU polls in the past few years by championing the cause of the “oppressed”.
In its campaign, the United Left Panel has been targeting the administration on the seat-cut issue and alleging that the ABVP was a bystander as the UGC gazette notification that changed the admission policy for research students was being implemented. They have also attacked the ABVP for its alleged involvement in Najeeb’s disappearance.
The panel said, “The ABVP cadres found guilty of assaulting Najeeb have been shielded by the Vice-Chancellor and have gone unpunished while the outgoing JNUSU president, who is from AISA, lost his studentship because of leading the struggle for justice for Najeeb. ”
Throughout the campaign, the panel has been asking the ABVP why it was contesting the JNUSU polls after having “colluded with the administration in the seat cuts”. It alleged that the ABVP wanted to “capture the students’ union” to turn it into a “handmaiden for the administration” and wipe out any student resistance.
Political movement
On the other hand, the ABVP has said while the JNUSU was busy resolving inner contradictions over the past year, the ABVP started an effective political movement that compelled the administration to change its position and agree on the written exam to viva voce ratio, reintroduction of deprivation points and implementation of provision on number of students to professor ratio in a phased manner. However, it said its movement was derailed as the JNUSU and the JNU Teachers’ Association took the matter to court.
