NSUI rebels prove their mettle

Allegations of corruption, indifference of senior party leaders or non-fulfilment of some previous promises may not have harmed the NSUI, the student wing of the Congress, as much as the party rebels did in the PUCSC poll today.

The rebel group, Democratic Students’ Front (DSF), led by former president of city NSUI Sikander Boora, stunned all by winning the top post of the council. Some of Boora’s friends, who had earlier helped the NSUI win PUCSC elections and are still with the party, silently supported him. “Crowning Boora alone is not justified. He got a stunning support from his friends, who are holding important positions in the NSUI state and national bodies,” said a source in the NSUI.

Standing for student rights helped us win: Boora

This (standing for students’ rights) is the only reason why we (DSF) won and the NSUI lost. The result is a clear reply to those who believe that student welfare is not worthy of attention. — Sikander Boora, Ex-city NSUI chief

The win became sweeter for the rebels, as the NSUI candidate for the post of council president stood sixth. Boora, peeved over the party choice for presidential candidate, verbally resigned and walked out of a press conference in the presence of city Congress president HS Lucky. Boora had made his resentment public by describing the selection of candidates as a ‘Tughlaqi farman’.

Fine reply to ‘Tughlaqi farman’: Boora

Boora claimed that the result clearly showed students’ importance. “I still stay on my word. The result is a sharp reply by the students to the Tughlaqi farman,” he said. Boora added, “On the day of my resignation, I returned to the campus. Over 300 students interacted with me. We have always stood with the students’ interest and the PUCSC elections can’t be fought on national or international interest. The support I got on the day of my resignation from the NSUI gave me the courage to form a new group. Within a few hours, we decided to form the DSF. Our main agenda was students’ welfare,” he added.

Boora, however, said he would stay with the Indian National Congress. For this election, the DSF had allied with the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) and Himachal Student Union (HIMSU).