The Left Unity alliance has once again stamped its dominance over Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), sweeping all four central panel posts in the 2025 JNUSU elections, the university’s election committee announced on Thursday (November 6).
The joint front of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI), and Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) secured a resounding victory, reaffirming the Left’s long-standing hold on the politically charged JNU campus.
Aditi Mishra was elected President, defeating RSS-backed ABVP candidate Vikas Patel by 449 votes, while Kizhakoot Gopika Babu clinched the Vice-President’s post, defeating Tanya Kumari. Sunil Yadav and Danish Ali won the General Secretary and Joint Secretary positions, respectively, trouncing their ABVP rivals Rajeshwar Kant Dubey and Anuj.
This year, 9,043 students were eligible to vote, with a 67% turnout, slightly lower than the previous year’s record. The atmosphere on campus remained charged throughout the polling day, as students queued outside hostels and departments amid slogans, drumbeats, and campaign songs.
The results mark a major setback for the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which had managed to return to the JNUSU central panel last year after a decade-long drought when Vaibhav Meena won the joint secretary’s seat. Before that, the ABVP’s only presidential win came in 2000–01, when Sandeep Mahapatra broke the Left’s dominance, followed by Saurabh Sharma’s victory in 2015 after 14 years.
With this sweeping win, the Left Unity alliance has reaffirmed its influence in JNU’s vibrant political landscape, continuing its long tradition of debate, dissent, and activism that has shaped generations of student leaders.
