New Delhi, August 26
Amidst the changing dynamics of Delhi University Students' Union elections-from campus issues to mainstream politics-the DU administration seems geared up to hold peaceful polls for its 51-member colleges on September 14.

While adhering to the Supreme Court guidelines of 2006, the administration also expects a better students' turnout on the poll date compared to the last couple of years when the polling stood at an average of 35-36 per cent.

For this the university's advisory committee has gone ahead of what the Lyngdoh Committee (LC) recommended for regulating the elections.

The DU election commission has spelt out an array of measures pertaining to the manner and mode of campaigning that obviously has not gone down well with most of the student organisations as well as their mentors in the Delhi University Teachers' Association. The restrictions imposed, starting from the stipulated time, 8 am to 8 pm, for campaigning to a group of four "bona fide students" who can accompany the candidate, have been resented by the organizations. Besides, the LC has put a cap on the campaign expenditure at Rs 5,000.

Most of the bodies, with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), National Students' Union of India (NSUI) and All India Students' Association being the major contenders in the fray, have termed the administration's attitude undemocratic and an attempt to contain the students' movement in the university.

"The new election rules are unfair and impractical. They have restricted the hours of campaigning, thus limiting our scope to reach out to students. Then, connecting through social sites is just not practical, given the huge students' strength with many in the peripheries having no access to the Internet. The university wants to keep the student polls a low-key affair," said Rohit Chahal, the secretary of ABVP, which currently holds the top three office bearers' post except the president's which is with the NSUI.

However, the administration continues to maintain a strict stand and justifies it as an adherence to the LC's recommendations.

"Elections are being held as per the Lyngdoh Committee's report, and we have appealed to all the aspirants to abide by the SC's decision. Though we are promoting the paperless modes and thus the alternative to the online campaigning, it remains a choice for the parties. There has been a misinterpretation of the rules," said the deputy dean at DU's information centre Satish Kumar, while clearing out the confusion over the online mode of campaigning.

Many student bodies are under the impression that the administration's pushing for an online campaigning through the community radio or social sites is an attempt to curb students' voice and is indicative about its plan to make it mandatory next year.

Criticising the administration's step of discontinuing the system of providing hard copies of nomination papers to the candidates, NSUI member Ajay Chhikara said, "It is just a cost-cutting measure in the name of promoting conservation of nature as hailed by the university. Now the students themselves have to get the printouts. Instead of creating a proper environment for polls, the administration has fixed the limit for expenditure at Rs 5,000 that is completely irrational. It is not possible to travel across so many colleges situated at distant corners."

A member of All India Students' Association, Sunny Kumar, also pointed out that the scene has changed at DU. "DU is a kind of platform which acts as a launching pad for the candidates from Haryana, UP and peripheries of Delhi," he said.

This time, one will not find groups of students with profiles of parties making their way into the classes. While the administration supports these stringent measures, students oppose them as a way to rein in their right to free polls.