JNUSU elections 2025 put on hold following violence at EC office

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) elections have been indefinitely suspended following the incidents of violence and vandalism at the Election Committee (EC) office in the last two days over multiple extension of deadline for withdrawal of nominations. The EC announced the decision to halt the election process citing a major lapse of security and a hostile environment on campus.

"This is to inform all concerned that recent incidents of violence and vandalism at EC office and on EC members on 17/04/2025 and 18/04/2025 have seriously disrupted the election process. In light of a major lapse of security and the environment of hostility, fear and insecurity following the violence, it has been decided to put the entire election process on hold. Till further notice, the final list of candidates has also been put on hold.The situation spiralled after the EC extended the nomination withdrawal deadline multiple times. Originally set for April 16, the final candidate list was delayed and a withdrawal window was kept open till 4 pm on April 17, which was later extended to 4.30 pm," the EC said in a statement.

The committee will resume the JNUSU election process only after the administration and student organisations ensure the safety of its members, it said.

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The EC has demanded that the JNU administration take appropriate action against those involved in the violence and ensure security before the elections resume. It also accused the administration of not responding adequately to earlier requests for protection. "The election committee will not tolerate any further threats and acts of violence. It is unfortunate that despite EC's continuous requests to administration for providing enough security, the administration has not responded in satisfactory manner. The EC is committed to conduct elections in a fair and democratic manner and will resume functioning only after the peace is restored," EC added.

Student groups protest

The ABVP has accused the EC of acting under pressure from the "Left United" and termed the suspension of elections a deliberate attempt to derail the democratic process. "The JNU Election Committee has become a puppet of the Left," the ABVP said in a statement.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) strongly opposed the extensions, calling them undemocratic. Protests by the ABVP and counter-protests by Left-affiliated groups such as the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students' Association (BAPSA) led to clashes, damage to property and heightened tensions. Following continued unrest, the EC provided another window on April 18 from 2 pm to 2.30 pm, prompting further protests. During the chaos, barricades were removed, glass panes at the EC office were shattered and several committee members reported feeling unsafe.

The political landscape this year is also marked by a breakdown of the long-standing United Left alliance, which had dominated JNU student politics since 2016. While AISA and DSF have formed a new alliance, SFI, BAPSA, AISF and PSA are attempting to form another front, though several of their nominations were either delayed or rejected due to procedural lapses and confusion over the withdrawal process.

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The ABVP has announced its full panel of candidates -- Shikha Swaraj for president, Nittu Goutham for vice president, Kunal Rai for general secretary and Vaibhav Meena for joint secretary. The AISA-DSF alliance has also declared its candidates -- Nitish Kumar (AISA) for president, Manisha (DSF) for vice president, Munteha Fatima (DSF) for secretary and Naresh Kumar (AISA) for joint secretary.

This year, 7,906 students are registered to vote. According to the data released by the EC, 57 per cent of the voters are males and 43 per cent are females. According to the original schedule, the presidential debate was to take place on April 23, followed by polling on April 25 in two sessions -- 9 am to 1 pm and 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Counting was scheduled to begin the same night, with results expected by April 28. With the process now on hold, the future of the JNUSU elections hangs in the balance.

(with inputs from PTI)