Delhi University begins whitewashing walls after delay in student union election results
Delhi University (DU) has initiated the whitewashing of the campus walls following the recent Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) elections, as the announcement of the results remains pending.
The delay comes as a result of a Delhi High Court order that has restricted the announcement of the results until the cleaning of the campus on both the North and South sides is completed.
A court hearing regarding the elections is scheduled for October 21.
A worker on the Delhi campus confirmed that the university had requested the whitewashing as part of the court’s directive. Varun Choudhary, National Student Union of India (NSUI) national president, expressed his frustration over the delay, stating, “We have already cleaned up the campus to the best of our abilities during our cleaning campaign right after the elections.”
Both the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the NSUI are on the edge over the postponed results. The NSUI is demanding access to visuals of the rooms where the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are kept. Meanwhile, the ABVP submitted a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor last week, urging for a speedy announcement of the results.
ABVP national media head Ashutosh Singh told The Tribune, “We submitted a memorandum to the VC to announce the results as soon as possible. While we await the next court hearing, the university has begun the cleaning process. The student union is a vital part of democracy and requires reforms. However, the court’s decision to halt counting has created confusion among students. Without a functioning student union, their issues are not being addressed.”
Choudhary highlighted concerns over the integrity of the election process, noting that voting was delayed in several colleges. He stated, “We are set to again request the live footage from the streaming link of the strongroom where the EVM machines are being kept.”
On October 11, the ABVP had submitted its memorandum, emphasising the need to protect student interests and calling for a reconsideration of the court’s decision to expedite the announcement of election results, ensuring students have a voice in addressing their concerns.
Complying with HC order
The delay comes as a result of a Delhi High Court order that has restricted the announcement of results until the cleaning of the campus on both the North and South sides is completed.
