Come September 11, and Delhi University will vote to elect its student body. Parties are going all out in their bid to gain support from the students in almost 50 colleges that would be casting their votes this Friday. Buoyed by its victory in the Assembly polls, the AAP's students' wing, the Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), has entered the fray this year, giving a tough fight to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), National Student Union of India (NSUI).
Student Organisation of India (SOI) will also be participating in the elections along with other bodies like Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Indian National Students' Organisation (INSO).
Student elections at DU are usually a straight contest between the BJP-backed ABVP and the Congress's NSUI every year. With the entry of AAP-backed CYSS this year, the contest has literally turned into a slugfest. At stake are not just the four posts in the union, but also the larger political images of the three parent parties.
This election has become all about visibility, about making a statement. From a multitude of colourful posters to fresher parties, the parties are leaving no stone unturned in wooing potential voters.
And In order to make an informed vote, each student body has unleashed their respective manifestos for the year.
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)
Key issues
- Pressure the Delhi government to implement the Room Rent Control Act
- Bring in the Paying Guest Regulation Act
- Secure atmosphere for Northeast students
- Hostel accommodation, especially for women students
- U-special buses, 40% concession on Metro card for students
- Printed marksheets for all students
- Supplementary exam for third-year students in case of mass failure.
National Students' Union of India (NSUI)
Key issues
- Hostel facility
- Women's security
- Facilities for Northeast students
- Transport facilities, including feeder buses for Metro
Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS)
Key issues
- Right to free Wi-Fi
- Women's security
- Right to income: Employment opportunities for youth through job fairs
- Right to education: The AAP plans to launch a higher education loan scheme (under which students can avail loans up to Rs 10 lakh) three days before voting
- Hostel accommodation
Student Organisation of India (SOI)
The students' wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is yet to decide on the campaign issues or its stand on the Choice-Based Credit System (CBCS). It will contest the elections in three colleges — SGTB Khalsa, SGND Khalsa and SGGS College of Commerce
All India Students' Association (AISA)
Key issues
- Hostel accommodation
- Women's security
- Metro and bus passes for students
- Infrastructure development in colleges
Know your candidates
Those in the fray for the post of President are Satinder Awana (ABVP), Pradeep Vijayaryan (NSUI), Kuldeep Bidhuri (CYSS) and Sheetal Bhopal (AISA). The contenders for the post of Vice President are Sunny Dedha (ABVP), Prerna Singh (NSUI), Garima Rana (CYSS) and Sudhanshu Shekhar (AISA).
For Secretary – Anjali Rana (ABVP), Amit Sehrawat (NSUI), Rahul Raj Aryan (CYSS) and Ravi Kumar (AISA).
For Joint Secretary – Chattar Pal Yadav (ABVP), Deepak Chaudhary (NSUI), Hitanshi Chauhan (CYSS) and Abhinav Kumar (AISA).
Whether DU students will actually heed the parties' calls, it remains to be seen.
Comments
0 comment