DUSU: Does the low voter turnout point to the disenchantment in DU politics?

Delhi University Student Elections results are out and once again, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has managed to come out victorious. ABVP won three seats out of the total four positions – President, Vice-President and Secretary. National Students Union of India (NSUI) has risen from dormancy this year by winning the Joint Secretary post.

NSUI’s return in the union has broken ABVP’s attempt at sweeping the polls as it has done for the past two years. All India Students Association (AISA) did not win any post.

Only 35.3 per cent of the total 1,23,246 student voters of Delhi University cast votes on September 9 at the 117 booths in 51 colleges. There was a seven per cent drop in voter turnout this year as compared to 2015, but ABVP maintained over 10,000 votes with all four candidates.

ABVP’s Amit Tanwar scored 16,537 votes for President, Priyanka Chabri won 15,592 votes for Vice President and Ankit Sangwan scored 15,518 votes for Secretary. NSUI’s Mohit Sangwan scored 16,526 votes for Joint Secretary, beating ABVP by a margin of 2,466 votes.

As visible from this year’s poll data, NSUI put up a fight. Their vote share for the post of Secretary and Vice-President remained at a difference of less than 2,000 votes. When compared to last year’s NSUI vote share, it is a historical rise.

This year was also the first election of Delhi University Students Union to include NOTA (None Of The Above) option. D S Rawat, Chief Election Commissioner for DUSU said, “ A considerable number of students, 17,712, opted for NOTA in this year’s election.”

The fact that over 14 per cent students opted for NOTA points to the larger trend of students rejecting the current method of DUSU elections, which are highly notorious for flouting Delhi University’s election regulations.

Kawalpreet Kaur, presidential candidate from AISA said, “Despite ABVP and NSUI winning posts, the disgust, criticisms that their campaigns generated and the resultant low voter turnout in the elections show it is now more than ever that DU students need an alternative model of politics.”

On the alleged charges of DUSU polls being rigged and bogus voting in various colleges, Congress MP Deepender Hooda along with NSUI members are on an indefinite hunger strike at the Arts Faculty of DU.

NSUI has claimed that polling was rigged in nine colleges and has also claimed that there was a lack of transparency during vote count on September 10. Angellica Aribam, NSUI National General Secretary, said, “ After much delay, the administration has agreed to meet us on September 12 afternoon. This is happening for the first time in DU history that after polls the administration is agreeing to meet and it is only because the allegations have merit and are raising serious concern.”

Amrita Dhawan, NSUI National President said in a press statement, “We thank the student fraternity of Delhi University for reposing their faith in us and giving us a chance to serve in DUSU after two years.”

Delhi State Secretary of ABVP, Bharat Kumar, has rubbished the claims. He said, “No such miscounting has happened. Even if there was a mistake in counting it could not possibly be of 5,000 votes. And if they really feel so strongly, they can move to court and even the option of recounting is there.”

He also said, “We have been winning for four years in a row now. Were the elections rigged each time? This is just something the NSUI is claiming because they have lost once again.”

D S Rawat Chief Election Commissioner for DUSU said, “The complaint has been filed and is with the Grievance Cell right now. Any issues that rise after the election are not in the hands of DUSU election commission but are forwarded to the Grievance cell as per the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines. The cell is now deliberating upon the issue.”