The JNUSU elections have been indefinitely halted due to violence and security breaches, with both sides blaming each other and the Election Committee demanding administrative action.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) elections have been indefinitely suspended following violent clashes and multiple security breaches during the nomination withdrawal process. The Election Committee (EC) issued a notice citing incidents of violence and vandalism on April 17 and 18, which created a hostile atmosphere and disrupted the democratic process.
According to the EC, the violence severely impacted the integrity and safety of the election proceedings. “The recent incidents… have seriously disrupted the election process. In light of a major lapse in security and the resulting atmosphere of hostility, fear, and insecurity, it has been decided to put the entire election process on hold until further notice,” the committee said in an official statement.
The Election Committee’s official statement read:
“Recent incidents of violence and vandalism at the EC office and on EC members on April 17 and 18 have seriously disrupted the election process. In light of a major lapse in security and the resulting atmosphere of hostility, fear, and insecurity, it has been decided to put the entire election process on hold until further notice.”
The final list of candidates, which was due to be released soon, has also been postponed. The committee emphasised that it will only resume the election process once the safety of EC members is guaranteed by both the university administration and student organisations.
The EC has demanded strict action from the administration against those responsible for the violence. “It is unfortunate that despite our continuous requests for sufficient security, the administration has not responded satisfactorily,” the committee stated, reiterating its commitment to conducting elections in a fair and democratic manner.
According to reports, the flashpoint occurred on Thursday afternoon during the nomination withdrawal process, when a scuffle erupted between rival student groups, each blaming the other for the disruption. Left-leaning organizations, including the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the AISA-DSF alliance, accused the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) of instigating the violence, claiming that ABVP members broke windows, misbehaved with students, and created a commotion that hindered candidates from withdrawing before the 4:30 pm deadline. The AISA-DSF alliance further alleged that ABVP members stormed the Election Commission office, pelted stones, broke barricades, and chased EC officials to the terrace, accusing them of intimidating election officials and vandalizing property.
In contrast, the ABVP has denied these charges, instead blaming the Left for resorting to mob tactics and intimidation and accusing the Election Commission of acting under leftist influence. They labeled the post-deadline nomination changes as unconstitutional and part of a larger conspiracy to suppress ABVP’s rising popularity. Amid these escalating accusations, JNUSU President Dhananjay has called for calm and reiterated his support for a swift, peaceful resolution, stating that the student union is ready to take responsibility for ensuring security and restoring the democratic process.
Original Election Schedule Delayed
This year’s JNUSU elections, already delayed by a month, were set to follow the below timeline:
- April 15: Start of nomination process
- April 16: Last date to withdraw nominations
- April 23: Presidential debate
- April 25: Voting day
- April 28: Results announcement
Given the current developments, all dates have been suspended until further notice.
The campus now awaits further communication from the Election Committee and the university administration as efforts continue to restore order and resume the democratic process.
(Inputs from Ila Kazmi)
