By Ishan Kukreti
North Campus, New Delhi: Delhi University students today voted to select their student body representative who'd be responsible for infrastructural improvements, cultural activities and properly employing funds of the university.
Although, strict rules were to be followed regarding use of funds for posters, pamphlets and other campaign materials bythe Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) election commission, the same openly flaunted with party members openly distributing pamphlets, and using printed posters.
Polling started at eight in the morning and saw strictly monitored movement of students across North Campus of Delhi University. Chatra Marg, from Faculty of Arts to Faculty of Law,
was barricaded by the police, allowing only students with ID cards to enter. The police discouraged students from gathering and standing in groups outside colleges like Ramjas andKirori Mal to keep the possibility of any confrontation between rival political parties to the minimum.
Today's voting, which took place in 50 DU colleges affiliated to DUSU across Delhi, will decide the fate of candidates from the major parties: AkhilBhartiyaVidharthi Parishad (ABVP), National Student Union of India (NSUI), All India Student Association (AISA) and the newly formed Aam Aadmi Party backed ChhatraYuvaSangharshSamiti (CYSS).
"A total of 35 candidates are contestingthe four posts of DUSU office bearers. While nine candidates are in race for the post of President, eight are vying for Vice President's chair," DS Rawat, DU faculty and Chief Election Commissioner for DUSU polls said.
Talking to NewsGram, ABVP National Secretary RohitChahal said, " ABVP won all four seats last year, and we'll win them this year too because we have worked for the students. This year we are focusing on women safety, improving hostel facilities, solving the rent problem faced by students living in the vicinity of campus."
Although all parties had similar promises to make to the students like rent control, women safety, better connectivity for far away
colleges, they basically differed in their outlook towards other parties.
While ABVP members felt that CYSS and NSUI have been indulging in muscle and money power politics, NSUI members blamed CYSS of the same.
"Arvind Kejriwal has fooled the people of Delhi, but he will not be able to do that with DU students. CYSS stands no chance in the DUSU elections even with all the muscle and money it is employing." Vivekanand Pathak, National Sectary, NSUI told NewsGram.
Although DUSU elections have always been a tough fight for all the participants, the debut of AAP's CYSS in the political area of DU this year will definitely give everyone a run for their money.