It was an action-packed day at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) with the student body elections concluding on Friday.
Though the usual singing of self-composed songs, beating of dhaplis and shouting of “ lal salam ” slogans dominated the day here, the voter turnout this year (53 per cent) saw a slight dip from last year (55 percent).
By late afternoon, the pathways in the campus were coated with leaflets distributed during campaigning. The voting, which began on a slow note in the first half of the day, gained momentum post lunch with students queuing up to cast their vote.
Calling out to vote for her party, AIDF cadre Ruby Singh hopes that her party will grab the post of the vice-president, if not the presidential post.
“The AISF is second only to the ruling AISA. Even last year, we got the second highest majority. The AISA has better machinery which ensures a victory for them every year,” said Ms. Singh, a second year M. Phil student.
While the SFI’s Rahul N. is also hopeful of his party securing the vice-president’s position, he admitted that the BJP’s student wing — ABVP — was fast emerging as a close contender and gradually “eating into the vote share.”
“With the BJP at the Centre and the ABVP winning the DUSU polls last year, they have grown in strength at JNU too. Many people have chosen to break away from the main parties and joined the ABVP in the hope that it will help them as their own people are in power at the Centre. The NOTA option is also taking away a considerable portion of calculated votes. This is a testing time for JNU. It is getting difficult to predict results,” Rahul said.
Asked if the AAP might also move into the JNU campus, he said the AAP’s influence was restricted till Delhi University.
A bunch of students was later seen near the entrance of the School of Languages, alternately taking selfies and going through the list of candidates. This, with one student observing the politically-charged atmosphere with amusement.
“I hail from Russia and I don’t understand the relevance of indulging in politics at an educational institution. But, it is interesting to see that the campaigns are being done in such a musical way,” said Polina Dotcerko, a first year student at the Centre for Russian Studies.
The counting of votes here will begin amid security after 9 p.m. on Friday. The results are expected to be declared on September 13.
The turnout went up post lunch with students queuing up to cast their vote
