The Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) elections are due on Friday, September 9, 2016.
Many people are of the opinion, that student elections are a waste of time, energy and money and that they do not guarantee a stable political career most of the times. However, as of late, the nature of these elections has changed for good and is improving every year. As far as DU is concerned, we have some very dedicated intellectual candidates who work for the betterment of students in the University. And being a student, if you want to see change or even righteously criticize the inefficacy of existing system, you have to be a part of it to bring the change you want to witness.
All the prospective candidates and organisations are campaigning voraciously. For the past one week, members of these organisations come to various colleges, declare their manifestos and previous achievements, distribute fliers and persuade people to vote in their favour. Some even try to maneuver public support in their favour by offering free movie tickets, discount vouchers, etc. Some heavily funded ones like the NSUI even offered to take students to so called 'fun n food villages'! If that is not a desperate attempt to practically bribe people, what is? Isn't it so similar to the tactics adopted by parties in 'larger-scale' elections?
At every corner in the campus, there is buzz regarding the elections. With NSUI almost out of the picture and SFI's ( Student Federation of India) perennial lack of adequate popular support, the prime competitors this time seem to be the AISA ( All India Students Union) and the ABVP ( Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad).
AISA made an impressive move by having three women candidates in the panel of four. They also have been active in the protest against FYUP ( Four Year Undergraduate Programme) and the recent CBCS (Choice Based Credit System) among other things, which very well is in their advantage.However, the recent infamous event involving accusation of rape against Anmol Ratan, a member of JNU AISA triggered mass fury. Given that AISA doesn't already have that strong a base in DU, this incident might have a negative impact on the faction of supporters it has.
ABVP, which forms the incumbent panel, is a strong contender. Apparently, it has a reputation of nurturing vandalism and hooliganism, but there must be much better reasons because of which it is the largest student organisation in the country and in the world, with roughly 3.2 million members!
Contrary to popular perception, ABVP is a highly self-funded organisation. It has sporadic nominal financial aide from the political organisations it is affiliated to. And as far as Delhi University is considered, ABVP has genuinely worked hard.
In almost 5-6 colleges, construction of new hostels have been commissioned; it was ABVP that 'cajoled' the protesting teachers of DUTA ( Delhi University Teachers Association) to start the long-delayed evaluation; it consistently persists the authorities for increasing the number of seats in colleges and hostels, etc.
The ABVP also encourages students to come forth with their grievances and quite surely, does look into the matters sincerely.
An innovative move during the elections this time, by some like-minded students of Miranda House, is the 'No Poster Party'. It seeks to protest against the littering of streets and the criminal wastage of paper, in the form of fliers and posters, during campaigning and wishes to promote paper-less campaigning.
The competition is in the air with all candidates giving invigorating speeches, groups shouting slogans, massive online campaigning, et al. Whose efforts bear fruit, we'll come to know after 48 hours.
Many people are of the opinion, that student elections are a waste of time, energy and money and that they do not guarantee a stable political career most of the times. However, as of late, the nature of these elections has changed for good and is improving every year. As far as DU is concerned, we have some very dedicated intellectual candidates who work for the betterment of students in the University. And being a student, if you want to see change or even righteously criticize the inefficacy of existing system, you have to be a part of it to bring the change you want to witness.
All the prospective candidates and organisations are campaigning voraciously. For the past one week, members of these organisations come to various colleges, declare their manifestos and previous achievements, distribute fliers and persuade people to vote in their favour. Some even try to maneuver public support in their favour by offering free movie tickets, discount vouchers, etc. Some heavily funded ones like the NSUI even offered to take students to so called 'fun n food villages'! If that is not a desperate attempt to practically bribe people, what is? Isn't it so similar to the tactics adopted by parties in 'larger-scale' elections?
At every corner in the campus, there is buzz regarding the elections. With NSUI almost out of the picture and SFI's ( Student Federation of India) perennial lack of adequate popular support, the prime competitors this time seem to be the AISA ( All India Students Union) and the ABVP ( Akhil Bhartiya Vidhyarthi Parishad).
AISA made an impressive move by having three women candidates in the panel of four. They also have been active in the protest against FYUP ( Four Year Undergraduate Programme) and the recent CBCS (Choice Based Credit System) among other things, which very well is in their advantage.However, the recent infamous event involving accusation of rape against Anmol Ratan, a member of JNU AISA triggered mass fury. Given that AISA doesn't already have that strong a base in DU, this incident might have a negative impact on the faction of supporters it has.
ABVP, which forms the incumbent panel, is a strong contender. Apparently, it has a reputation of nurturing vandalism and hooliganism, but there must be much better reasons because of which it is the largest student organisation in the country and in the world, with roughly 3.2 million members!
Contrary to popular perception, ABVP is a highly self-funded organisation. It has sporadic nominal financial aide from the political organisations it is affiliated to. And as far as Delhi University is considered, ABVP has genuinely worked hard.
In almost 5-6 colleges, construction of new hostels have been commissioned; it was ABVP that 'cajoled' the protesting teachers of DUTA ( Delhi University Teachers Association) to start the long-delayed evaluation; it consistently persists the authorities for increasing the number of seats in colleges and hostels, etc.
The ABVP also encourages students to come forth with their grievances and quite surely, does look into the matters sincerely.
An innovative move during the elections this time, by some like-minded students of Miranda House, is the 'No Poster Party'. It seeks to protest against the littering of streets and the criminal wastage of paper, in the form of fliers and posters, during campaigning and wishes to promote paper-less campaigning.
The competition is in the air with all candidates giving invigorating speeches, groups shouting slogans, massive online campaigning, et al. Whose efforts bear fruit, we'll come to know after 48 hours.
