Candidates list declared for JNUSU polls, AISF not to contest

New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) All India Students Federation(AISF), of which sedition accused Kanhaiya Kumar is a member,is not contesting JNU student Union polls this year for whichthe final list of candidates was declared here today. Last year, AISF had for the first time independentlycontested elections and opened its account in the union pollswith Kanhaiya, who was elected for the President’s post. During his tenure as JNUSU President, Kanhaiya becamecentre of a major controversy when he along with two otherstudents was arrested in a sedition case over an event oncampus during which anti-national slogans were allegedlyraised. This year, AISF which is the student wing of theCommunist Party of India (CPI) has decided to offer internalsupport to the alliance of All India Student Association(AISA) and Student Federation of India (SFI). This is for the first time that AISA, the student wing ofCommunist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) and SFI haveformed an alliance for JNU polls which has been named as "LeftUnity". Students Front for Swaraj (SFS), the student wing ofAAP’s breakaway group Swaraj Abhiyan, has also fielded itscandidates for the four crucial central panel posts in JNU forthe first time. The polling will be held on September 9 and the countingof votes will begin on the same night. The Presidential debatewill be held on September 7. "The nomination and withdrawal process has concluded.After the scrutiny 18 nominations were found valid for theCentral Panel. While five candidates are in fray for the postof President, nominations of four students have been acceptedfor the vice president post," Ishita Mana, newly appointed CECfor JNUSU polls said. "There are four and five candidates in race for the postof General Secretary and Joint Secretary. A total of 75nominations were received for the central panel while 120students had filed nominations for the post of councillors,"she added. JNUSU is the representative body of the students in thevarsity. The polling is scheduled on September 11, same asthat for the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU). The pollpattern at JNU, however, differs from that of DelhiUniversity. Besides the routine campaigning, the candidates in JNUare also supposed to make speeches about their agenda followedby a round of questions at the "Presidential debate". Thenight-long event which is conducted in the style of USPresidential debate is a sought after affair and also adeciding factor for the union elections. Last year, AISF had opened its account in the JNUSU pollswinning the president’s post, while RSS’ student wing ABVP hasbagged one of four central panel slots after a gap of 14years. Other parties who have fielded their candidates in theJNU polls this year include ABVP, Congress affiliated NationalStudents Union of India (NSUI), Democratic Students Federation(DSF) and Birsa Ambdekar Phule Students Association (BAPSA).PTI GJSRG