left inclined student unions — the All India Students Association (AISA) and Democratic Student Front (DSF) — maintained their lead on the second day of counting for JNU student union polls. On Sunday, the AISA and DSF were in the first and second positions for all four seats of the central panel and 30 seats for councillors from different colleges. The result is expected to be announced on Monday morning since counting of nearly 30 per cent votes was still underway.
After completion of 70 per cent counting, the candidates of AISA were announced to be leading over their opponents from DSF for the posts of president, vice president and general secretary while DSF candidate was leading for the post of general secretary. Out of the 30 seats for councillors, 25 were snapped up by AISA while the remaining was won by DSF. The candidates of both left supported unions for four major posts were stated to be leading by margins of more than 300 to 400 votes.
“Since JNU is a stronghold of left supported organisations, we are in a comfortable position to win all major posts of the student union this time as well. We have a strong base of cadre vote in the University, which prevents other unions to usher changes or break tradition. Since the country is reeling under a severe economic crisis due to poor policing at the Centre, the defeat of other organisations, especially the NSUI, will send a strong message of change to the people of this country,” said Akbar Chaudhary, presidential candidate, AISA.
Alok Kumar Singh, presidential candidate, ABVP, said that although they are trailing in the count, they have secured twice the vote compared to the previous year. Even on Monday, ABVP candidates were ahead and said to swing the electoral tide since counting of more than 30 per cent votes was yet to be done.