Left wing has once again made it to the panel with Mohit Pandey as the new President.
As results of Jawahar Lal Nehru Students' Union (JNUSU) polls came in last night, the sweep by Left Unity- team of AISA-SFI, did not surprise many, least of students who were camping outside different schools since Friday night when the counting started. In a repeat of sorts, Left-wing has again made it to the panel with Mohit K Pandey.
Predictably so is how most students have defined the results, hinting that Kumar's infamous February 9 incident had little or no bearing in either denting the loyal vote bank of the Left or decreasing its popularity among students. The 2016 polls, in fact, registered 10% increase turnout. Elected members feel this "decisive mandate" is indicative of its students standing with the university, giving a befitting reply to "radical" forces that were baying for their blood since Kumar was accused of sedition. "Students have reposed their faith in us. No wonder we have made it to the panel with great margin compared to the right wing. We have always believed in standing up for our rights, and will continue to do so," said Pandey.
But why JNU continues to remain a bastion of Left, what constitutes this popularity? While things do seem to be changing wee bit on the campus as could be deduced from the increased vote share of ABVP (Jahanwi Ojha garnered 1,048 votes and ABVP got one seat in 2015), Left still dominates. Students offer various arguments: from its members having a "nuanced" understanding of politics and academics to being the only ideology that gives voice to the oppressed and marginalised. "JNU's vision is to prepare its students intellectually so that they have a detailed, humbled and nuanced perspective. We support the under-privileged, giving them a platform to express themselves without feeling inferior. We also provide a humbling ground to those who have led a privileged life in a way that they start recognising their silver spoon," states Mukesh Kulriya, who has been elected councillor, School of Arts and Aesthetics.
He hastens to add, "We believe in discussions, debates, intellectual stimulation. Right wing does not have such political tools. But at the end of the day, they are forced to acknowledge that we are different from them."
Vain attemps of the right wing
Students also feel that calls for 'shutting down JNU as the institution was a breeding ground of anti-national forces' following Kanhaiya Kumar's arrest was a vain attempt on part of right wing sympathisers. "It is wrong to say that we promote anti-India agenda. It is tragic that the privileged class do not want the weaker to stand up for themselves including the women as all this upsets their status quo. It scares them. We on the other hand, empower anyone who is weak. That is why we are seen as anti-nationals," says Pankhuri PV, alumna of JNU.
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 "Mohit K Pandey")
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