Sunil Yadav, JNU’s Left Unity candidate for General Secretary 2025. [Photo: Instagram/iyadavsunil]
Sunil Yadav has emerged as a key face in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) 2025 elections. Contesting for the post of General Secretary under the Left Unity alliance, he represents the next generation of student leaders pushing for equity, inclusivity and student welfare on campus.
Sunil Yadav is a PhD scholar at JNU’s School of International Studies. Known for his active role in student affairs, he has consistently spoken about preserving JNU’s democratic culture. His campaign reflects a focus on accessibility, better hostel facilities and fair representation for every student voice.
In the JNUSU 2025 elections, Sunil Yadav is contesting for the General Secretary position from the Left Unity panel. His nomination underscores the alliance’s commitment to grassroots leaders with strong academic and activist credentials. His campaign slogan revolves around “Student rights, democratic values, and inclusive governance.”
The 2025 JNUSU elections have seen a fierce contest between Left Unity and the ABVP. According to early trends, Sunil Yadav secured over 1,100 votes during the initial rounds of counting, reflecting strong support among research and postgraduate students. The final results are expected to determine if the Left Unity can retain its traditional influence on campus.
Sunil Yadav represents the Left Unity, an alliance of major student organisations — AISA, SFI, DSF and AISF. This coalition has historically led JNUSU, advocating progressive policies, campus rights and academic freedom.
The final counting is still underway. Based on partial tallies, he holds around 1,100 votes out of roughly 6,000 valid ballots cast, projecting a 17–18% share in the General Secretary race.
As per current trends, his vote share is expected to fluctuate between 15–18%, depending on the remaining schools’ results. The close contest reflects a strong challenge to the ABVP candidate.
This is Sunil Yadav’s first major contest for a central panel post in JNUSU. Previously, he had been active in departmental student committees and Left Unity campaigns, focusing on student welfare and administrative transparency.
The 2025 central panel elections for the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) concluded with voting on November 4. The result for the JNUSU Election 2025 is expected on November 6. A total of 9,043 students were eligible to vote, and voter turnout stood at 67%, down from around 70% in the previous year.
Early trends show the Left Unity alliance—comprising groups like All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Students’ Federation (DSF)—leading in three of the four key posts: President, Vice-President and General Secretary.
Sunil Yadav Instagram handle: https://www.instagram.com/iyadavsunil/
Sunil Yadav belongs to the PhD batch of the School of International Studies. Though the exact admission year isn’t listed, his ongoing research and activism suggest he joined the doctoral programme in recent academic sessions.
He is currently pursuing his PhD at JNU, specialising in international relations and policy studies. His educational background includes advanced research on South Asian politics and diplomacy, combining academic depth with political engagement.
Sunil Yadav hails from Basti district in Uttar Pradesh, with family roots extending to Baghpat. He often highlights his small-town background as inspiration to represent underrepresented voices in student politics.
The Left Unity alliance has been a dominant force in JNUSU politics for over a decade. It won all four central panel posts in 2019 and retained key positions in 2023 and 2024. However, the ABVP has recently made gains, making 2025 one of the most competitive polls in years.
