New Delhi, September 10
Coming down hard on the candidates contesting polls for this year's Delhi University Student Union, who have been found using printed material for canvassing, the chief election officer today issued a show cause notice to eight candidates.

Terming it a "gross violation of the decision of the Supreme Court 2006" which forbade the use of printed material for campaigning in any form, including posters and pamphlets, the chief election officer Chandra Shekhar Dubey today said, "We have come across some violations and several complaints have also brought our attention to the matter. The rest will be decided once the candidates submit their reply."

"The notice requires these candidates to explain why action should not be taken against them since this is the violation of the code of conduct mandated by the Supreme Court. Further, they are directed to file the reply within 24 hours, failing which suitable action shall be initiated," Dubey added.

Out of the eight candidates slapped with the show cause notice, four of the candidates are NSUI-backed contestants--Arun Hooda for the post of president, Varun Khari for vice-president, Varun Chaudhary for secretary and Raveena Choudhary for joint secretary. The other four are ABVP-backed candidates. They are Ankit Dhananjay Choudhry for the post of president, Gaurav Choudhary for vice-president, Ritu Rana for secretary and Vishu Basoya for the post of joint secretary.

The clause 6.7 and sub-clause 6.7.5 during the 2006 SC judgment reads, "No candidate shall be permitted to make use of printed posters, printed pamphlet, or any other printed material for the purpose of canvassing. Candidates may only utilize handmade posters which are procured within the expenditure limits."

This is the second time since 2006, that violations to this rule have been witnessed in DUSU elections.

Back in 2009, when the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations were new to campuses, as many as five candidates, all from the ABVP and NSUI had been disqualified from contesting elections on grounds of violations.

The fate of the eight candidates will be decided after the election authority goes through their replies and explanations. In case, the candidates fail to satisfy the chief election officer, and are disqualified, the field would be left open for the independent candidates and Left parties.

New Delhi, September 10
Amongst the endless repetitions that have crawled up in party manifestos during the Delhi University student elections, several additions are a pleasant change this time.

Releasing their manifestos today, the contending parties--the ABVP and the NSUI--discussed their plans contributing towards the welfare of the university.

Both the ABVP and the NSUI have dealt subjectively with the issue of safety and discrimination of students from the northeast, more so due to their recent exodus from several cities following rumours and hoax threats.

While the NSUI manifesto cites its Northeast Students Cell in Delhi, the ABVP has demanded a 'Grievance Redressal Committee' for northeast students in the university.

Availability of free photocopies of course readings, working towards a student charter in all the DU colleges and departments, evening classes, setting up more colleges and hostels in the 95-acre vacant land of DU and special provisions for the NCC cadets and outstanding sportspersons of DU are some of the highlights of the NSUI manifesto this season.