The left wing’s victory in JNUSU poll is the victory of its unification

The results of the students union elections of the globally renowned institution of higher education known as Jawahar Lal Nehru University and nowadays turned into an aggressive political wrestling ground, has emphatically proved that the liberal and progressive thinking has once again won over the politics of right wing that was trying to invade in the campus of the left, winning the elections since ages. An institution of free debate, discussions and liberal thoughts JNU has been the centre of controversies during the last few years particularly during the tenure of left president Kanhaiya Kumar and activists like Umar Khalid who’ d been branded as anti nationalists by right wing activists with charges of sedition going on against them in Delhi courts for allegedly raising anti India slogans. Kanaiya Kumar hails from Communist Party of India having negligible say in Indian politics.

The vociferous and eloquent well read eminent parliamentarian, member of the upper house twice and General Secretary of CPI(M) Sitaram Yachury, whose party is ruling in Tripura n Kerala and the Indian Defence minister Nirmala Sitaraman both are the JNU alumnus. Yachury had been the President of JNUSU during the eighties and a relentless fighter having been to jail number of times on issues pertaining to students welfare. JNU is credited with producing best brains, civil servants, IPS officers, journalists, bureaucrats, academicians and politicians.

Though JNU has always been the stronghold of the left in the past, the left student organisations have been fighting against each other resulting in the victory of NSUI and ABVP in some of the seats, though not all. But in view of the increasing invasion of the right wing effect in the citadel of the leftists, particularly after 2013 when the rule of BJP led NDA came to Delhi the left student wings felt the dire need for unification. The way during the previous left president Kanhaiya Kumar’s regime things went awry in the campus with registration of cases of sedition against him and they being allegedly called traitors by the right wing ABVP, especially after the alleged raising of anti India slogans, the left student organisations active in JNU campus felt the strong need to unite in order to strongly counter enhancing influence of the ABVP the student wing of BJP.

And as a result of the three effective left student organisations viz. AISA, All India Students Association, DSF, Democratic Students Federation and CPM’s SFI, Students Federation of India came together under one umbrella and fought aggressively on issues of fellow student Najeeb Jung’s mysterious disappearance, 83% cut in the seats in admissions in MPhil and PhD courses compounded with other significant issues as politics of polarisation and lynchings in the name of cow vigilantism and the sensitive diabolical murder of an outspoken anti establishment progressive women journalist Gauri Lankesh.

This one sided victory of the left panel is also in a way an unambiguous expression of total non-confidence towards the stewardship of the JNU vice chancellor who was hell bent upon altering the fundamental character of this internationally renowned university. Being a globally acclaimed university – a centre of high learning such assaults on university’ s academic character by withdrawing 83% seats in MPhil and PhD admissions meant for the students of various classes and down trodden strata of the society and making JNU a battleground instead of letting it be a centre of free debate, discussions and activism has evoked tremendous resentment amongst the left wing supported students.

The present poll mandate in JNU therefore is a massive vote of no confidence against the Vice Chancellor as well as those who are supporting the interest of the ultra conservative, right wingers and the anti intellectual groups which is in no way connected to mould the future and well being of the students as well as the JNU. A new entrant, however, known as BIRSA AMBEDKAR PHULE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, though contested earlier elections also have performed well but remain to be seen whether this pro-Ambedkar student outfit bridges its relationship with the left or sides with the anti left establishment. The victory also gives a great jolt and rebuff to the sectarian forces and fundamentalist fanatics who killed Gauri Lankesh. What do you say, friends ?

SUNIL NEGI