JNU Student Union Elections Set for November with New Grievance Cell

Upcoming Elections at Jawaharlal Nehru University

The student union elections at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) are anticipated to take place in November this year. To oversee the electoral process, the university has established a grievance redressal cell.

University officials have indicated that the elections are likely to occur in mid to late November. An official notice revealed that elections for PhD candidates will be scheduled six to eight weeks following the start of the academic session, which commenced on September 12.

In a recent announcement from the Dean of Students' Office, the formation of the Grievance Redressal Cell (GRC) was confirmed, aimed at addressing any issues that may arise during the elections. This cell, led by Dean of Students Professor Manuradha Chaudhary, includes ten faculty members and two student representatives.

In the previous elections for the 2024-25 term, the Left alliance secured the top four positions. The GRC is authorized to function as a "court of original jurisdiction" for electoral disputes, with the Vice Chancellor holding appellate authority. Its responsibilities include prosecuting violations of the election code, reviewing candidates' financial disclosures, and issuing summons to ensure compliance.

Last year, the Left alliance continued its stronghold by winning three out of the four leading positions in the JNUSU elections, while the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) made a notable return after a decade, claiming the joint secretary role.

Nitish Kumar from AISA was elected as president, Manisha from DSF took the vice president role, and Munteha Fatima from DSF became the general secretary. The ABVP's Vaibhav Meena won the joint secretary position, marking a significant challenge to the longstanding dominance of the Left alliance at JNU.