Tempers flare in JNU as latest notice puts Left candidate’s eligibility at risk

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) on Tuesday accused the university administration of “targeting Left-affiliated student organisations” as its notice making internal complaints committee (ICC) members ineligible for upcoming JNUSU polls may lead to the disqualification of the Left panel candidate.

Aditi, an All India Students’ Association (AISA) member and the Left Unity alliance candidate for president, resigned from the ICC on October 23. The Dean of Students’ notice, dated October 24, stated that ICC student members will not be eligible to contest JNUSU elections.

“This deceitful maneuver appears tailor-made to target Left Unity candidates contesting JNUSU. They have already resigned from their posts before filing nominations. It is a blatant act of administrative forgery and political interference,” the outgoing JNUSU said in a statement. The union added that it was aimed at “engineering an ABVP victory”.

Dispelling allegations of political interference, an administrative official said the rules “remain the same every year”.

The list of valid nominations was scheduled to be published by Tuesday evening, but was still awaited. It is unclear whether Ms. Aditi will be allowed to contest. AISA said the administration might cancel her run at the last minute, citing the notification.

The JNUSU alleged that the ICC notification was “backdated” and “intentionally published” on October 27, the last date for filing nominations, and just four hours before the deadline ended.

Polling is scheduled for November 4, and results are to be announced on November 6.