Left groups join hands to contest DUSU polls

Ahead of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections scheduled for September 27, two Left-leaning student organisations, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All-India Students’ Association (AISA), announced on Monday that they would contest the poll together. The move is seen as a direct challenge to the dominance of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The SFI, affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) ie CPI (M) and AISA, backed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation ie CPI (ML), are aiming to counter what they describe as the “politics of money and muscle” in student elections. Under the terms of their alliance, AISA will field candidates for the positions of president and vice president, while SFI will contest the posts of secretary and joint secretary.

Announcing the collaboration, AISA’s Delhi secretary, Neha, emphasised the alliance’s shared vision. “Mirroring the INDIA bloc’s efforts against the BJP’s politics of hatred and capitalism, we aim to create a similar model at Delhi University to address educational and student concerns. AISA and SFI have decided to collaborate for these elections, presenting a unified panel and agenda against the politics of money and muscle,” Neha said.

The DUSU elections are known for their high stakes, with large-scale rallies, pamphlet distribution, and fierce competition between student groups. AISA and SFI leaders argue that the core issues affecting students, such as rising fees, hostel accommodations, and accessible education, are often overshadowed by such displays.

The Left alliance also criticized ABVP’s support for policies like the National Education Policy and fee hikes, accusing the group of working hand-in-hand with the university administration and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. “ABVP’s reign has been marked by a DUSU that acts as an agent of the administration and the Sangh, supporting moves to dismantle public education and suppressing dissent on campus,” the student association said.

Addressing broader societal issues, AISA and SFI also spoke of the rise of national movements related to women’s safety and gender justice. “From the streets of Kolkata to the campuses of DU, we are seeing a strong force combating patriarchy and rape culture,” Neha said, emphasizing the role that DU’s students could play in shaping progressive change.

“DU as the largest central university in the nation houses students from across the country, and the politics of DU go on to shape the politics of the nation,” she added. “It is time for the progressive forces of DU to throw out the politics of privatization, communalism, and violence.”

Both AISA and SFI said they would soon release a joint manifesto focusing on key student issues, including rising fees, inadequate hostel facilities, and demands for accessible education.