Delhi University poll campaigning ends amid accusations, promises

On the last day of campaigning for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, the two main contenders — the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) — made a last-ditch effort to rally student support ahead of Friday’s voting.

However, tensions escalated after NSUI’s presidential candidate Raunak Khatri was accused of forcefully entering Miranda House, leading to a war of words between the rival student groups.

According to the ABVP, Khatri, along with a group of NSUI supporters, allegedly broke the gate of the women’s college to campaign inside, in violation of DUSU election rules. ABVP secretary candidate Mitravinda Karanwal condemned the incident, stating, “The forceful entry of NSUI’s presidential candidate and his male supporters into a women’s college is shameful. The ABVP stands with the girl students of Miranda House, who felt unsafe during the incident, and we strongly demand action.”

The ABVP further claimed that Khatri’s group misbehaved with the students who attempted to stop them from entering the campus, raising concerns about the safety and security of female students.

The NSUI, however, denied the allegations, accusing the ABVP of spreading false propaganda. “These claims are completely baseless. Khatri entered the campus with proper permission as per DUSU rules,” said the NSUI. It further criticised the ABVP for resorting to divisive tactics, stating, “ABVP’s politics of intimidation will not work. The students of Miranda have consistently rejected their agenda of hatred, and they will do so again.”

Despite the controversy, both parties intensified their outreach to students across Delhi University. ABVP’s candidates, including Rishabh Chaudhary (president), Bhanu Pratap Singh (vice-president), Mitravinda Karanwal (secretary) and Aman Kapasiya (joint secretary), highlighted their achievements from the previous year and their manifesto for 2024.

“The ABVP has a strong track record of success, from running U-Special buses to installing sanitary pad vending machines in nearly every college. We are committed to the holistic development of the student community and have received an overwhelming response from students,” said Bhanu Pratap.

Meanwhile, the NSUI also held a significant march led by its national president Varun Choudhary in support of its candidates Khatri and Lokesh Choudhary (joint secretary). Addressing the crowd, Choudhary promised key initiatives, including 12 days of menstrual leave for female students.

“Women’s health is a priority for NSUI, and we will ensure that female students are supported both academically and personally,” he said.

Confident in NSUI’s prospects, Choudhary declared, “We will win this election by a 4-0 margin.”

With tensions running high and both parties presenting strong cases, the stage is set for a heated DUSU election on Friday.