Rivals unite in protest against DU's ₹1-lakh bond for DUSU polls
The provision, part of the "anti-defacement" guidelines issued on Aug 8, allows the university to forfeit the bond for code of conduct violations or property damage. DU says the move aims to curb vandalism during the polls, but the student groups call it undemocratic and exclusionary.
ABVP Delhi state secretary Sarthak Sharma said the bond was "a malicious attempt to limit the elections to only affluent students", warning of a "massive movement" if it was not revoked.
NSUI president Varun Choudhary termed it "a political weapon" to tilt the field in ABVP's favour, alleging the university was "weaponising rules to exclude ordinary students" in violation of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, which cap candidate spending at Rs 5,000.
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Left groups have raised similar concerns. Students' Federation of India (SFI) said the amount would "shut the door on smaller, resource-poor organisations" and deepen the influence of money in campus politics.
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"By demanding a Rs 1 lakh bond from DUSU election candidates, the university is putting a price tag on democracy. While we appreciate the intent to curb defacement, this move disproportionately targets common and marginalised students, creating financial barriers to democratic participation. Student elections must be inclusive, not exclusionary," said SFI Delhi president Sooraj Elamon.
All India Students' Association called the rule "anti-democratic" and "a brazen attempt to turn student politics into the preserve of the wealthy", vowing to protest until it was withdrawn.
While major outfits like ABVP and NSUI regularly field high-profile candidates and mount expensive campaigns, they, too, have objected to the bond as an arbitrary hurdle that could discourage participation from economically weaker students and create legal challenges.
With the DUSU elections scheduled for Sept 18, the standoff sets the stage for an unusual convergence of campus rivals against the administration, underscoring wider anxieties over the accessibility and fairness of student politics in DU.
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