There was a slight dip in voter turnout for the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections on Friday, with 58.6% of 8,055 student voters turning up to cast their vote.
Last year, the voter turnout was 59.6%, significantly higher than the 53% who turned up to vote in 2015.
The figures were released by the student-run election committee of the university after polling ended at 5.30 p.m. Polling was held in two sessions — between 9.30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Second session
In true JNU style, the morning session did not see many voters turn up. However, students started queuing up outside their respective schools and centres by the second session.
There was excitement in the air as student organisations made last-minute efforts to try and sway the students who were still undecided. Slogans cheering candidates and the constant beating of daflis created a festive atmosphere throughout the day.
Pamphlets in hand
Students were seen handing out pamphlets with their names and agenda outside polling stations.
Seven candidates had filed their nomination for the post of president, four for vice-president, four for general secretary and six for joint secretary.
The student organisations in the race are the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students’ Association (BAPSA), All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and the United Left Panel, comprising students from the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF).
Counting of votes began at 10 p.m. on Friday and the results are expected on Saturday.
