A referendum conducted by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) has revealed that a significant majority of students oppose the continuation of Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit in her role. Out of 2,409 students who participated, 2,181 voted against her, while only 207 supported her, with 21 votes declared invalid.

The referendum, held on March 10, was a response to ongoing protests on campus, which were fueled by allegations of administrative corruption and controversial remarks made by Pandit. Notably, she faced backlash for stating that “Dalits and Blacks are drugged with victimhood,” a comment that has been widely criticized.

In the wake of the referendum, JNUSU emphasized that the exercise aimed to democratically ascertain the opinion of the student community regarding the Vice Chancellor’s future. However, the legitimacy of the referendum has been contested. Christhu Doss, a member of the university community, questioned the transparency and legality of the process, asking, “Who was the independent election commission or election commissioner who monitored this so-called referendum?”

Aditi Mishra, another student leader, defended the referendum, stating, “It is very sad that the legitimacy of an elected student body has been repeatedly questioned. The referendum conducted by JNUSU is absolutely valid, all due process was followed.”

The controversy surrounding Pandit has escalated, particularly following her remarks, leading to protests where more than 50 students were detained and 14 arrested. These events have unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tensions on campus, which began in early February with the suspension of four JNUSU office-bearers.

With around 9,000 students enrolled at jnu, the outcome of this referendum could have significant implications for university governance and student representation. However, details remain unconfirmed regarding the next steps following the referendum results.

As the university community grapples with these developments, the future of Vice Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit remains uncertain, with many awaiting official responses from the administration regarding the referendum’s findings and the ongoing protests.

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