Left Dominates JNU Students Union Election; Dhananjay Becomes First Dalit President Since 1996

JNUSU Elections 2024: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) on Sunday elected its first Dalit president — Dhananjay — from the Left-backed groups after nearly three decades. In the polls that took place after a hiatus of four years, Dhananjay from the All India Students’ Association (AISA) won the JNUSU president’s post by securing 2,598 votes against the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) Umesh C Ajmeera, who secured 1,676 votes.

Hailing from Bihar’s Gaya, Dhananjay is the first Dalit president from the Left after Batti Lal Bairwa, who was elected in 1996-97. “This victory is a referendum by the students of JNU that they reject the politics of hate and violence. The students have once again shown their trust in us.

We will continue to fight for their rights and work on issues that concern students,” the newly elected JNU President Dhananjay spoke to news agency PTI. The polling for the JNUSU elections was held on Friday, March 22 this year.