The Indian National Congress has named Vinod Jakhar as the new President of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) in a significant leadership change. This decision was announced through a press release by AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal, who also acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing NSUI President, Varun Choudhary. The move is part of ongoing efforts to revitalize the organization’s grassroots presence amidst changing student activism in India.
NSUI, established on April 9, 1971, by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is the student wing of the Congress party. It was formed through the amalgamation of the Kerala Students’ Union and West Bengal State Chhatra Parishad. With a membership exceeding 4 million and a presence in over 15,000 colleges, NSUI is recognized as the world’s largest progressive students’ union. The organization advocates for secularism, social democracy, human rights, women’s empowerment, and freedom of speech.
Vinod Jakhar, originally from Rajasthan, brings a wealth of experience in student politics to his new role. Having previously served as the NSUI Rajasthan State President, Jakhar made history in 2018 by becoming the first Scheduled Caste individual to win the Rajasthan University Students’ Union presidency. His leadership has been centered on combating politics driven by power and money, with a focus on youth empowerment and addressing state issues from an anti-BJP perspective.
Jakhar’s active engagement in student welfare and Congress ideology is evident through his social media presence on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Meanwhile, Varun Choudhary, the outgoing NSUI President, has been a prominent figure within the Congress’ student wing since his early days. Notably, Choudhary became the youngest elected Secretary of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) at the age of 17 in 2012. His tenure as National President, starting in January 2024, saw him lead various movements advocating for student rights, social justice, and campus reforms, thereby expanding NSUI’s influence nationally.
The appointment of Vinod Jakhar has generated immediate reactions on the social media platform X, with users expressing their congratulations and sharing the official press release.
