Campaigns pick up pace as DUSU polls draw closer
As the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, scheduled for September 18, draw closer, campaigning has gained momentum across the North Campus.
Student organisations are not only finalising candidates but also framing their agendas, ranging from menstrual leave and metro fare concessions to academic freedom and infrastructure reforms.
Varun Choudhary, national president of the Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI), which currently heads the central panel, said, 'We have shortlisted around 15-16 candidates and are working on our pre-campaign efforts'. Mr. Choudhary said they will raise 'social justice issues' such as the university 'defying' reservation rules in admissions and recruitment.
According to him, NSUI is also prioritising demands related to crumbling infrastructure and the delays caused by the Common University Entrance Test (CUET). Last week, the organisation staged protests demanding 12 days of menstrual leave per semester for women students, which is among their key campaign points.
Bond clause
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) began campaigning as soon as the new academic session started. Its main concern has been the clause that requires students to sign a ₹1 lakh bond to contest elections. The amount will be forfeited if they are found violating defacement rules.
'We have raised the issue with the administration and have been assured that this clause will be revoked,' said Harsh Attri, ABVP's national media convener.
The new poll guidelines, introduced last week, also prohibit the use of loudspeakers and vehicles, besides defacement. These restrictions came after the Delhi High Court halted the elections last year over widespread defacement. University officials have said they are considering alternatives to the bond clause after protests by multiple organisations.
Currently, the central panel includes two post holders from ABVP and NSUI, with the president from NSUI.
'Alternative politics'
Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) recently rebranded Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP) is seeking to break the NSUI-ABVP dominance by offering what it calls 'clean politics'. On Friday, AAP Delhi State president Saurabh Bharadwaj announced that ASAP will support students from ordinary backgrounds, regardless of their political affiliations.
In a statement, ASAP said, 'ASAP's mission is to strengthen democracy from the grassroots through alternative politics, ensuring students choose clean politics over money and muscle power.' Earlier this week, ASAP also demanded a 50% metro concession for students, citing rising living and education costs.
Meanwhile, Left outfits All India Students' Association (AISA) and Students' Federation of India (SFI) are exploring an alliance. AISA Delhi State president Abhigyan said, 'We will fight for academic integrity, and one of the major issues is that under NEP 2020, Value Added Courses and Skill Enhancement Courses form a core of the credits. This has diluted academics in the university, and they don't add much value.'
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