The Delhi University Students Union elections are always dominated by the students wings of two national parties , BJP and Congress and the candidates of the left parties though ideologically strong, committed and programme oriented never come victorious due to their being financially weak and not believing in vulgar ostentation spending excessively on campaigning. However, after the Lyngdoh committee recommendations to curb excessive spending on campaigning on students union elections of universities, the two national parties’ student wings ABVP and NSUI still manage these expensive elections by using other methods to clandestinely spend massive funds on students to garner votes winning these elections turn by turn every year.
This time the CPI’s student wings All India students Federation has shown brave heart to field candidates on all seats . However the nomination of the candidature of AISF vice president was cancelled due to some technical discrepancy.
All India Students‘ Federation, the first student organization in India, which played a very crucial role in Indian independence movement has become the vibrant power in DUSU elections 2024-25.
AISF is rowing against the current in the DUSU elections which is regarded as one of the prestigious political event in India.
Despite the accusation of having weaker position, the organization has made spectacular campaign throughout the university.
According to AISF leaders while the other organization including SFI-AISA is striving to satisfy the traditional right wing equations, AISF has emerged as the marxist progressive organization which has fielded its candidates from the marginalized category.
Aniket Madke, the AUSF presidential candidate is a Dalit student hailing from Chinwada, Madhya Pradesh and the captain of the ship.
Aniket Madke is a first year student of Law Centre hailing from Madhya Pradesh, representing the Dalit community and contesting as a candidate of All India Students Federation (AISF). The AISF’s manifesto outlines a robust agenda for marginalised communities, including establishing a North-East Students’ Protection and Welfare Committee and measures to support LGBTQIA+ students. “Discrimination, hate crimes, and financial barriers against North-East students will not be tolerated. The AISF manifesto commits about provide providing comprehensive legal, social, and financial assistance,” the manifesto states.
Adithyan and Anjana hailing from Kerala are from OBC background and are contesting or general secretary and joint secretary’s post.
Md Akram the proposed candidate of AISF for the post of vice president was discriminated by the election commission and Shivaji college administration by cancelling his nomination citing that principal didn’t sign at a specific column. This silly reason was stated despite the college seal was placed accuse the AISF leaders.
Candidates who had similar issue were given a free walk while Akram was denied the rightful opportunity to contest the cancellation. He was pushed and manhandled by scrutiny officers and security say the AISF leaders.
AISF interacted with the students with the Chhaatra Manifesto which in comparison with other manifestos is comprehensive and student welfare oriented.
In a statement the AISF has strongly criticized the Delhi University Scrutiny Committee over the cancellation of the nomination of the AISF vice presidential candidate saying : Revealing its exclusionary and discriminatory nature DUSU’s election commission, its Scrutiny Committee has unethically cancelled the nomination of the AISF candidate for the post of Vice President. Md. Akram a student of Shivaji college has been subjected to discrimination.
The scrutiny committee pointed out that the sign of the Principal was absent at one Column. But excuse was given to other candidates who had the same issues.
According to AISF, DU Comrade Akram was informed they will verify his case with the principal but the favour was given to other candidates who were backed by money and muscle power. The nomination of the Fraternity Movement’s was torn by the NSUI goons. We condemn this criminal attitude as the campus doesn’t seems to be inclusive and safe. DUSU election commission is following Mc Carthyism. They are witch hunting AISF. The committee must be held responsible for the exclusionary and discriminatory practice. They must be ready to rectify this said the AISF statement.
Meanwhile apart from AISF, the All India Democratic Students Organisations has fielded a girl candidate namely Sheetal as its presidential candidate who is the first year Hindi honours student of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College. AIDSO Organisation is a leftist organisation. Sheetal wants to make Delhi University elections rid of the money and muscle power to empower the students movement.
Another candidate namely Badee U Zaman is merely 24 years old contesting for the post of president from Fraternity Movement a 7 year old organisation. He hails from Kerala and is pursuing MA Arabic from DU.
The youngest merely 17 year old student – Maurya is also contesting for president’s post in this DUSU elections. He is the first year student of Hindu college pursuing B. Com honours and hailing from Gorakhpur. Favouring new education policy he is for the university to stop exploiting the students in the name of the merit based CUET exams.
Another presidential candidate is Pinki who is 24 years old studying Budhism and associated with Ambedkar Students Association ( ASA) which is contesting in Delhi University for the first time.
According to Pinki – there are two major challenges before the students – first being fee hike. We belong to the public university and the government knows how much we can afford to pay. The government should be concerned about education and not their income says Pinki. Secondly we want to fight all sorts of discrimination against the marginalised groups on the campus.
