DUSU polls: seven candidates in fray for president’s post

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Student organisations on Friday announced their candidates for the September 18 Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections. After nominations, scrutiny and withdrawals, seven candidates are in the fray for the post of president.

Also Read: DUSU polls: Delhi HC threatens to stay vote counting over violence; teachers allege assaults

Five candidates are contesting for vice-president, while four each are in the fray for the posts of secretary and joint secretary.

Of the four central panel posts, three are currently held by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and one by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).

The All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) are contesting together. The panel said it would carry forward the momentum generated by the protest at Jantar Mantar and raise concerns of students following the Satya Niketan tragedy.

The Aam Aadmi Party’s student organisation, Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), has fielded visually impaired student Pankaj Kumar for the post of secretary, with a focus on issues affecting students with disabilities on campus.

The Disha Students’ Organisation has also fielded candidates and urged students to vote for an “independent revolutionary alternative”.

Ananya Raturi, the only woman in the fray for president, is contesting on the AISA-SFI joint Left panel.

Ms. Raturi, who hails from Uttarakhand, has been campaigning against the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme and harassment of women students. She said women are rarely given tickets, particularly for the post of president.

ABVP’s Yash Dabbas, from Kanjhawala, is an international tennis player. He is pursuing Buddhist Studies. The RSS-affiliated outfit said its ‘Aakhir kab tak?’ campaign, launched after the Satya Niketan incident, would continue to focus on safe student accommodation.

Congress-backed NSUI’s Vijay Shankar Meena, a Buddhist Studies student from Rajasthan, is contesting for president. NSUI president Vinod Jakhar cited safety, accommodation, social justice and democratic rights as key issues. ASAP has fielded Ashmit Kumar for president.

“The candidates have largely complied with the election guidelines. I urge them to use fewer vehicles and avoid printed campaign material,” said Proctor Manoj Kumar Singh.

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