Campaigning for the coveted leadership in the Delhi University Students’ Union began in earnest on Friday with all the major players in Delhi University politics declaring their candidates.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, which was unseated from their numero uno position of three years in last year’s election, declared its candidates amid much fanfare. It has fielded M.A. Buddhist Studies student Aman Awana for the post of president. “I am against the new four-year undergraduate programme in the university, which was passed without consulting the DUSU or the teachers. The old three-year structure is what we want and will fight for it,” he said. ABVP’s vice-presidential candidate is Sanskrit student Utkarsh Chaudhry. “I will work for evening colleges to be arranged in all the prominent DU colleges since new colleges have not been made in DU for years and there is a space crunch everywhere,” he said.
Its secretary candidate, Kirori Mal College student Anshu Lakra wants to ensure that the colleges located in the South, East and West have the same safe environment like the North Campus.
Another M.A. Buddhist Studies student Raju Rawat is the joint secretary candidate. “The rent must be controlled in the areas that surround DU colleges as students not finding hostel accommodation have to deal with steep rents,” he said.
ABVP’s arch-rival, the National Students’ Union of India, which also won the top three posts last year while tying on the fourth post of joint secretary with ABVP, has also finalised its candidates. It has fielded Vishal Chaudhary, a first-year Hindi student from Rajdhani College, for the president’s post. His agenda includes demanding more hostels for students. Its vice-presidential candidate is first-year Sanskrit student Kapil Sharma. Fairness in implementing sports quota for every college in DU is what he wants to work for, along with ensuring the safety of women.
The general secretary candidate, first-year Political Science student Karishma Thakur also has women’s safety as the prime agenda while the joint secretary candidate Kushank Khari wants to make students aware about the issues in the university and their rights.
The All India Students’ Association, which is the third major player in the university, has fielded English Literature M.A. student Anjali as its presidential candidate; Ankit Pandey from Hansraj College for the post of vice-president; Charul Negifrom Deshbandhu College for the post of secretary; and Muhammed Khan Siddiqui for the post of joint secretary.
