Kishan Singh Rana / Masood Hasan Khan
NEW DELHI: Neha Bora, the national president of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), has emerged as a prominent figure in protests in New Delhi over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Bora, 29, is a doctoral research scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where she is pursuing a PhD in Theatre and Performance Studies, according to media reports. She previously studied at the University of Delhi and Dr BR Ambedkar University Delhi.
From theatre to student politics
Bora has said that theatre played an important role in shaping her political outlook. She has also cited the student-led protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in 2019 and 2020 as influential experiences in her journey towards activism.
As AISA president, she has participated in campaigns and demonstrations concerning students’ rights, education and institutional accountability.
In July, Bora joined other JNU scholars in a 23-day hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar alongside educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk. The protest brought student-related concerns into the public debate, according to media reports.
Why is she in the news?
Bora has recently participated in demonstrations challenging the SIR of electoral rolls. Protesters have raised concerns about the revision process and demanded Kumar’s resignation.
The Election Commission has stated that the objective of SIR is to ensure that eligible citizens are included in electoral rolls and ineligible persons are excluded. The allegations raised by protesters remain disputed and should not be treated as established findings of wrongdoing.
On October 11, Bora was among the protesters detained during demonstrations in central Delhi, according to media reports.
The detention followed an incident in which police initially detained a woman who resembled Bora at RK Ashram Metro station. Bora was protesting elsewhere in central Delhi at the time and was later detained near Vijay Chowk.
The demonstrations took place amid a heavy security presence as protesters attempted to march towards Jantar Mantar.
What is AISA?
Founded on August 9, 1990, the All India Students’ Association is a left-wing student organisation associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, according to the party’s historical account.
The organisation campaigns on education, students’ rights and social justice through student activities, demonstrations and public campaigns.
Bora’s position as national president has brought her greater public attention amid the recent protests. Her involvement highlights the role of student organisations in wider debates over electoral processes, education and institutional accountability.
