This Assamese girl from NSUI just won her way into JNUSU. This is her story

This year, NSUI managed to bag two councillor seats in the current JNUSU. We catch up with Himadree Sonowal, who is one of them
Himadree is an alumnus of Cotton University
Himadree is an alumnus of Cotton University

Looks like one cannot ignore the presence of NSUI in JNU's political spectrum today. The recent JNUSU election's result may be on hold, but the trends tell us that the Congress affiliated student political organisation has won two councillor posts in the university. 

One of them is Vishnu Prasad, who was an active voice in the previous union. While Vishnu managed to retain his seat, the party has a new representative this year - Himadree Sonowal, a second-year MA Political Science student, who has won an SIS councillor seat. 

Hailing from Dibrugarh in Assam, this 23-year-old is quite new to NSUI. She joined the organisation only a year back. However, she is quite clear about her politics and what her party stands for. "I've read a lot about Congress and was inspired by its struggle to get us freedom. It's the same party that gave us the first woman Prime Minister, Chief Minister and President. I feel that it offers me a lot of space to raise my voice and make my point," says Himadree. "A moderate ideology like Congress' must be out of fashion in JNU, but for somesome like me, it is definitely inspirational," she says.


Even though the left parties have managed to sweep the polls this year, Himadree calls the left a 'failure'. "There has always been a left monopoly on the campus but such stagnancy cannot bring a positive change. They weren't able to succeed in their fight against the administration and failed to bring favourable changes. So, many people are now dissatisfied with the left in the JNU. They failed to prevent the administration's atrocities," says Himadree. "There was a time when they made the campus very vibrant through their protests, but of late they've become very lethargic and have failed to mobilise students. Their only strategy is frightening the students saying that ABVP will come to power," she says. 

She also tells us that she has seen a lot of students migrate from left organisations to join NSUI. We do not know if that is a reason, but NSUI's presidential candidate managed to get around 780 votes this year. "In the previous year, NSUI conducted a lot of activities in favour of the students. Last year,  Vishnu Prasad did an excellent job as the SIS Councillor. People are voting on the basis of the work that people have done. They're also looking for a non-binary alternative," she says.

Himadree also doesn't dismiss a possibility of the parties apart from the ABVP and members of the left alliance joining hands in the future. "NSUI, BAPSA, MSF, Fraternity and CRJD can definitely ally together. This year, however, it did not work out," she says. 

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