Drums, songs and slogans filled the air as students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) queued up on Tuesday to cast their votes in the students’ union elections. The main contest remains between the Left Unity bloc comprising AISA, SFI and DSF and the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
But a third force, the Progressive Students’ Association (PSA), has unsettled that binary, drawing unexpected attention and enthusiasm.
Much of that shift centres on PSA’s presidential candidate Shinde Vijayalaxmi Vyankant Rao, who emerged as a breakout figure after her fiery performance in the presidential debate. Breaking away from the traditional Left-versus-Right narrative, Rao tore up a copy of the Chief Proctor’s manual on stage during the debate.
She called the manual “a symbol of surveillance, not safety.” “There are barricades everywhere on campus but not around justice,” she declared, accusing the administration of curbing dissent while allowing “RSS parades”.
She also attacked the Government’s policies, saying they inflicted “pain on Dalits, tribals, and women,” and ridiculed what she called its “masterstroke politics,” from the rollout of GST to its rollback. Her speech ended with a poetic flourish, a couplet by Bashir Badr that earned a standing ovation from students across factions. Since that night, her name has dominated the chatter on campus.
Many students who traditionally supported the Left bloc said they now see Rao as a stronger and more independent voice.
Inside the polling booths, actress TJ Bhanu, known for her roles in Guns & Gulaabs and Afwaah, was also spotted. Bhanu, who openly backs Left candidates, said she was supporting Rao for president. “Shinde is more deserving of the top post,” she said, adding that she was otherwise rooting for Left candidates in the other positions.
The shift has put the Left Unity’s official presidential nominee, Aditi Mishra, on uncertain ground. Mishra, a PhD scholar from the School of International Studies, said the elections are taking place “at a time when dissent and equality are under threat” and promised to defend “an inclusive and accessible JNU.”
Left joint secretary candidate Danish Ali asserted that Dalits and Muslims were enduring persistent attacks nationwide, accusing the ABVP of promoting the same divisive politics within the university. She called on students to oppose casteism and Islamophobia while defending democratic spaces on campus. In contrast, the ABVP expressed optimism, with its presidential candidate Vikas Patel claiming that the Left had “ruled and ruined JNU for five decades.” He argued that students were weary of slogans and now sought accountability and practical solutions. The ABVP maintained that it had strengthened its foothold on campus and characterised the Left alliance as being in disarray.
That confidence appears to be rooted in support from new entrants. “We are getting strong backing from first-year students, especially undergraduates,” said an ABVP campaign volunteer.
One such voter, Maitri, a first-year student of Persian from Assam, admitted she was not deeply familiar with the candidates. “I didn’t know much about the politics here,” she said. “I even forgot the names while in line, but some students near me suggested the ABVP candidate, so I voted for them.”
The Left, in contrast, continues to draw loyalty from older students. “The Left always raises our issues and forces the administration to listen,” said Mahendra, a doctoral student. “Even with limited powers, they fight.” Others, however, want a change. “The Left has ruled for years, but campus problems remain: leaking roofs and overcrowded libraries,” said Sunil, a student of international relations.
“We need a union that looks inward, not outward.”
By late afternoon, queues had grown longer, and the festive buzz showed no signs of slowing down. A postgraduate from Kolkata described it as “a celebration”. “In my earlier university, there were no student polls. Here, it feels like a real festival,” he said.
As the sun set over the red-brick campus, students chanted and danced near the booths. For all the noise, one question lingered, will the Left retain its hold, can the ABVP build on its recent gains, or will the PSA’s Shinde Vijayalaxmi Rao rewrite JNU’s political script altogether.
