Jaipur, Feb 20 (NationPress) The Congress party has officially named Vinod Jakhar as the newly appointed president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI).

Jakhar previously held the position of Rajasthan University Students' Union (RUSU) state president for the past two years.

In a remarkable feat, he became the first Dalit president of RUSU in 2018 after running as an independent candidate. His appointment marks a historic moment in the 55-year legacy of the NSUI, as a student leader from Rajasthan’s desert region has ascended to the role of national president.

This milestone is particularly significant, given that even prominent leaders from Rajasthan Congress, such as Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, who are considered among the state's leading figures, never attained this national position during their student political careers.

Ashok Gehlot initiated his political path as the Rajasthan NSUI state president back in 1974, earning the moniker “Magician,” yet he never reached the national presidency of the student organization.

Similarly, Sachin Pilot entered the political arena through the Lok Sabha and later held important roles within the Youth Congress and the party structure, but he too never led the NSUI at a national scale.

Other senior figures, including former Union Ministers Bhanwar Jitendra Singh and C.P. Joshi, also did not secure this position.

In this context, Vinod Jakhar’s elevation is perceived as a significant political achievement.

Jakhar’s journey has been characterized by determination and perseverance. During the 2018 RUSU elections, when the NSUI denied him a ticket, he took a stand and ran as an independent candidate, achieving a remarkable victory.

His leadership abilities eventually led the organization to welcome him back, and he was subsequently appointed as the Rajasthan NSUI state president, culminating in his current role as the top student leader in the nation.

Coming from a modest background in Viratnagar near Jaipur, Jakhar's father works as a mechanic. With no political lineage or influential backing, his ascent within the NSUI is regarded as an inspiring narrative for students throughout Rajasthan.

A widely circulated photograph of Jakhar alongside Rahul Gandhi further underscores his rising influence within the party.

Jakhar belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, and his appointment is viewed as a strategic initiative by the Congress leadership. Observers interpret this as an effort by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge to enhance engagement with Dalit youth in Rajasthan and Northern India.

He also participated in a significant protest at Rajasthan University against the RSS’s Shastra Pujan program, which resulted in his detention.

This decision sends a strong organizational message that the Congress is committed to elevating grassroots workers to high positions, even if they do not hail from well-established political families.