Delhi: From rural roots to campus leaders, meet JNUSU’s new central panel

The newly elected Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) central panel features students whose journeys reflect grit, grassroots activism and a deep commitment to social justice.

In the elections concluded on Monday, the AISA-DSF alliance secured three of the four key posts while the ABVP made a comeback by winning the joint secretary position.

AISA’s Nitish Kumar, elected president, embodies the aspirations of India’s marginalised rural communities. Hailing from a farming family in Sheikhpura, Bihar, Kumar (26) is a third-year PhD student at the Centre for Political Studies.

Raised amid agricultural hardships, Kumar’s activism traces back to his undergraduate days at Banaras Hindu University. Since arriving at JNU in 2021, he has been an outspoken advocate for students’ rights — leading the Reopen JNU Movement during the pandemic, pushing for hostel improvements and fighting for accessible education.

As a Students’ Faculty Committee (SFC) representative and SSS councillor, Kumar championed initiatives like installing sanitary pad dispensers, revamping reading spaces and enhancing safety for women students. His leadership style is deeply rooted in ensuring that marginalised voices are not sidelined on campus.

The new vice-president, Manisha, from the Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF) carries a personal history of battling structural inequalities. A first-generation graduate from a Dalit family in Haryana, she witnessed economic precarity first-hand when her father lost his factory job due to labour code changes.

Manisha’s journey to JNU was marked by repeated setbacks — despite qualifying entrance exams, she faced discriminatory viva markings. Eventually securing admission to the Centre for East Asian Studies, she has emerged as a strong voice against institutional biases.

Previously elected SIS councillor in 2019, Manisha was prominent in the anti-fee hike movement and has consistently spoken out for inclusive, affordable education.

Elected general secretary, Munteha Fatima, also represents the voice of the marginalised. A first-generation learner from a working-class OBC Muslim family in Patna’s Sabzibagh, Fatima is pursuing her PhD at the Centre for West Asian Studies.

Since joining JNU in 2020, she has been active in movements to reopen the campus during the pandemic, prevent student evictions from hostels, and restore democratic processes such as JNUSU and hostel elections.

As the president of Ganga Hostel (2023–24), Fatima initiated crucial reforms and ensured basic rights for residents. She has also been at the forefront of efforts to reinstate GSCASH (Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment), advocating for institutional accountability and campus safety.

Breaking a ten-year drought for the ABVP in JNUSU’s central panel, Vaibhav Meena won the Joint Secretary post. Hailing from a tribal farming family in Karauli, Rajasthan, Meena completed his postgraduate studies in Hindi Literature from BHU and is now pursuing research at the Centre of Indian Languages.

Alongside his academic pursuits, Meena has been actively involved in campus life, serving as president of Kaveri Hostel and participating in NSS activities. His win is seen as a significant breakthrough for ABVP on a campus long dominated by the left.