Campaigning for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections ended on Wednesday after days of high-pitched canvassing, even as several parts of the campus remained plastered with posters and other campaign material, despite strict university rules against defacement.
The Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Law — two of the university’s busiest locations and key campaign hubs — were among the areas particularly covered with posters and campaign material. Candidates from organisations including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the All India Students’ Association (AISA)-Students’ Federation of India (SFI) alliance campaigned extensively in these areas. DU has laid down guidelines specifying permissible and prohibited activities during election campaigning. Campaign activity briefly slowed following the Satya Niketan building collapse, but intensified again during the final three days. They were, at least initially, but in the last two days everything has returned to the old ways.
These include a campaign expenditure ceiling of ₹ 5,000, use of handmade campaign material displayed only at designated locations such as the “Wall of Democracy”, and removal of all campaign material within 48 hours of polling. As the contest heated up, students said alleged violations of campaign guidelines also became increasingly visible across the campus. “I went to Shri Ram College of Commerce for classes today, and the road outside was littered with paper; one could barely see the road,” said Aaditya Tripathi, a master’s student. It’s unfortunate that the university hasn’t intervened despite visible violations,” Tripathi said. An undergraduate student from Hindu College, requesting anonymity, said students affiliated with political organisations continued distributing pamphlets and cards despite repeated refusals.
“After the court’s strict directive last year, I thought things would be different this time.
Following the voting, the EVMs are to be sealed in the presence of student representatives and election officers in their respective boxes and returned at the Multipurpose Hall, University Indoor Stadium where counting will take place,” DU said in an official note on Wednesday (September 16). “The VC directed all principals to maintain heightened security in their respective colleges for the next three-four days. EVMs shall be delivered to the colleges one day prior to the elections. The dispatch of EVMs will start from 8am and will be delivered by the master trainers deputed for the purpose.
