JNU votes to elect new students body, polling turnout sees a dip

Candidates running from one polling centre to another and supporters shouting slogans and playing the tambourine was a common sight on Friday as Jawaharlal Nehru University voted to elect a new students’ union panel.

Voting for the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) polls saw a marginal dip with the total voter turnout being pegged at 53.3% this year as opposed to last year’s 54.58%. The counting of votes will start after 9pm on Friday.

“Polling started at 9.30am on Friday morning and concluded at 5.30pm. We have recorded 53.3 % voting this year. 8400 students were registered on the electoral rolls and 4481 casted their votes. The results are likely to be announced on Sunday or Monday,” said Praveen Thallapelli, chief election commissioner for JNUSU polls.

Voting was slow in the morning and picked up pace by noon with students making a beeline outside the four polling centers in the University campus. The major issues this elections were lack of hostels, rise of right wing in educational institutes and safety in campus, students said.

Some students said Left-backed All India Students’ Association (AISA), which had bagged all the top four positions in the JNUSU polls last year, had not done much work after being elected. “AISA has been heading the students’ union for some years now and they have not delivered. I have always voted for AISA but this year I want some other party to head JNUSU,” said Naresh, a research scholar.

RSS backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which does not have a mass support base in JNU, has seen a rise in its popularity since last year

However, some students said AISA will benefit from the rising popularity of ABVP as votes which could have been divided among other left parties will now be consolidated in favor of AISA.

VOTING WAS SLOW IN THE MORNING AND PICKED UP PACE BY NOON WITH STUDENTS THRONGING THE BOOTHS