New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- A 40.46-per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) polls on Friday, with the ABVP and the NSUI locked in a keen contest, months after a youth-centric protest at Jantar Mantar brought questions of accountability and student concerns into sharper focus.
Last year, the student elections across a majority of Delhi University (DU) colleges recorded a voter turnout of 39.45 per cent.
The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on Saturday, with the results of the prestigious DUSU polls set to offer an indication of which student group has best gauged the mood and concerns of the university's students.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) won several college union polls across the DU on Friday, registering a clean sweep at the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), winning the president and secretary posts along with both councillor seats.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated organisation said it has put up a strong show in the college elections, recording clean sweeps in several colleges, and expressed confidence in securing a 4-0 victory in the DUSU polls despite the efforts of the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
High rents at paying-guest accommodation, a lack of affordable lodging facilities, non-functional hostels and commuting costs emerged as key issues, as safety concerns have been heightened by a recent building collapse at Delhi's Satya Niketan that claimed seven lives.
The DUSU polls were held months after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest. Accountability and student concerns featured in conversations around the DUSU polls, with voters saying they are looking more closely at what different student groups represent and the issues they seek to raise.
Polling for the morning shift began at 8:30 am and concluded at 3 pm, while voting in evening colleges continued till 7:30 pm.
The Delhi High Court on Friday ordered a complete ban on victory processions after the declaration of the DUSU election results, and asked all student organisations and candidates to explain why electoral damages should not be imposed on them for violation of norms.
A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia passed the directions after observing that there were frequent and blatant violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations during the DUSU polls.
The polls saw campaign activities that appeared to violate several rules governing student elections, with printed pamphlets scattered around the North Campus, vehicle rallies and the distribution of campaign materials around the South Campus.
Around the North Campus, printed pamphlets bearing candidates' names were scattered on roads and footpaths. People travelling in vehicles threw pamphlets, particularly around Chhatra Marg and near colleges, such as Kirori Mal and Hansraj, while students on motorcycles distributed candidate cards as they moved between colleges.
DU students raised concerns over affordable accommodation, functioning hostels, food and transport, while the ABVP and NSUI traded allegations during polling. Over 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across campuses.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.