Left wing students parties have come together to form an alliance for JNU Students' Union polls slated for September 12, with an aim to put up a fight against the right wing ABVP and ruling AISA.
The alliance named 'Left Progressive Front', comprising Democratic Students' Federation (DSF), All India Students Federation (AISF) and Students for Social Justice, hopes to sweep the students' election and pose a stiff competition to the All India Students' Association (AISA) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
"The need of the hour is to defeat AISA which has been failing students by not standing true to its promises," said V Lenin Kumar, leader of Democratic Students' Federation (DSF) and former JNUSU President.
However, left wing student parties don't want to take ABVP lightly, saying that situation outside the campus has completely changed and it might reflect on the students union election as well.
"It is a broad alliance against ABVP too. The situation outside the campus has changed and it will reflect on the union elections as well. The alliance is to not let the right-wing come to power," Lenin added.
Through the alliance, the left students parties want to address the issue of lack of hostel facilities by pushing for alternative accommodation if its presidential nominee Rahila Perween, the only female candidate in the race is voted for.
The main election agenda for the Left Progressive Front also includes strengthening the university's Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH).
"We want to ensure a more democratic atmosphere for the complainant as one files a sexual harassment complaint with the GSCASH. Increasing the number of counsellors in the GSCASH is also a top priority," Lenin also added.
Most student parties in the fray for JNUSU elections have underlined the need to ensure women's safety on campus. This comes in the backdrop when two JNUSU office bearers had to step down from their posts following a sexual harassment complaint against them last month.
