Congress’ National Students Union of India (NSUI) on Saturday wrested complete control of the Delhi University Students’ Union from BJP-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) by winning all three top posts, decimating the opposition camp which created a ruckus refusing to accept the results alleging “abuse of power” and “irregularities.”
High drama overshadowed the announcement of the election results today with ABVP cadre creating ruckus at the campus where the counting of votes took place prompting the police to use mild force that resulted in injuries to several people, including a few who were in the fray.
Activists of ABVP — which fought the polls on the anti-corruption and inflation plank — broke barricades, shouted slogans against Congress and the Delhi government, alleged “abuse of power” and even clashed with police who were posted in huge numbers to prevent any untoward incident.
NSUI’s Arun Hooda defeated his nearest rival Ankit Dhananjoy Choudhry of ABVP for the post of president by a margin of 5,465 votes.
Hooda polled 17,621 votes against Choudhry’s 12,156 votes.
NSUI took control of the students union after a gap of couple of years as the outfit could only win the president’s post last year. All other posts were won by BJP in the 2011 elections.
Varun Khari of NSUI was elected the new vice president after he defeated his nearest rival of ABVP’s Gaurav Chaudhary by a margin of 4,475 votes. While Khari polled 17,848 votes, Chaudhary mustered 13,373 votes.
Varun Choudhry, who won by a margin of 2,617 votes, becomes the new DUSU Secretary. Choudhry polled 15,605 votes, while his rival Ritu Rana of ABVP got 12,988 votes.
Since there was a tie between NSUI’s Raveena Choudhary and ABVP’s Vishu Basoya for the post of joint secretary, a re-count is underway.
While NSUI spokesperson Amrish Pandey called the results a “wipe out of saffron forces” in Delhi University, ABVP activists alleged Congress wrested control of DUSU through “abuse of power.”
Even before the results were officially announced by the university, ABVP activists were on their toes creating ruckus and shouting slogans.
When the results were announced, the activists went on a ruckus, shouting slogans and breaking barricades.
Police had tough time controlling the students and had to use force against the agitators who also went inside the library building.
ABVP activists alleged some of their cadres and candidates were injured in the police action.
A total of 38 candidates, affiliated to different political parties, were in fray the posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary.
During the campaign trail, ABVP had sought to corner NSUI by criticising the Congress-led state and central governments and raising an anti-corruption plank.
Besides the usual issues of opening of more colleges, starting of evening classes in more colleges, and free bus passes and discount in Metro fares, topical issues like concerns of sportspersons and students from the Northeast found their way in the election manifestos of the two main student groups this year.
