Will Modi checkmate Marx at JNU polls?

New Delhi: From Marx to Modi, India’s elite JNU which was rated as one of the top universities in the country is grappling with the choice as the biggest festival of JNU, the elections gets underway on September 12.

Seven candidates are in the fray for the President’s post of the Students’ Union at JNU. Room-to-room canvassing and use of Facebook and twitter are gaining momentum.

For the visually challenged, the Digital Voting System is made available for the first time. The ‘none of the above’ option, also introduced for the first time, is available only for central panel candidates.  

Ashutosh Kumar is the face of the All India Students Association (AISA), which swept the polls last year, winning all the top four positions.
   
After last year’s rout, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) is hoping to make a comeback fielding Pindiga Ambedkar for the top post.
   
Rahila Perween is the presidential candidate of the left-wing student parties – the All India Students’ Federation (AISF), Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) and Students for Social Justice (SSJ).

While Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has fielded Sourabh Kumar, the National Students Union of India (NSUI) has Jogendra Singh Pawar as its front runner.
   
Two other candidates include Chandra Shekhar Yadav from Chattra Sangh and Prakash Kumar.
The issue of lack of hostels has been used as an agenda by every student’s association and independent candidate who are contesting the election.

“More than 77% of the first year students do not have hostel facilities.  Poor transport facilities have resulted in an increase in the drop-out rates, mostly among women,” said SFI presidential candidate Ambedkar

AISA, which has been controlling the union for the last two years, said it had been consistently fighting for extra hostel facilities.

For the first time in JNU’s history, the Sangh Parivar-affiliated ABVP has fielded a Muslim candidate for the central panel. To reach out to more students, ABVP has fielded research student Jahidul Dewan for the post of vice-president.

After a no-campaign day on September 11, polling will commence on the next day, from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm. The counting will be done on the same day and the results declared on September 15.