DUSU elections: Candidates tackle key student issues ahead of polls

As the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections approach on September 27, the North Campus buzzes with energy, featuring passionate rallies and vibrant campaigns. Patriot interviews the presidential candidates from ABVP, NSUI, and the Left.

ABVP’s Rishabh Chaudhary aims to transform DU with focus on sports and infrastructure

Rishabh Chaudhary, the RSS affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s (ABVP) presidential candidate for the DUSU elections, brings a unique perspective to student politics, shaped by his roots in Haryana’s Sonipat, a region known for its agricultural landscape.

Chaudhary joined ABVP. His early experiences in Delhi highlighted the challenges outstation students face, especially high accommodation costs. Motivated by these issues, his focus shifted to improving basic amenities for students from similar backgrounds.

“When I arrived here, the problems were evident, and I decided to channel these challenges into constructive action with ABVP,” he told Patriot. His admiration for senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari reflects not only his political leanings but also his personal interests, as he uses college breaks to travel across India, often observing infrastructure improvements. He believes in nurturing the vast pool of talent present in the university, envisioning partnerships with national and international coaches to elevate the sports culture.

Looking towards the elections, Rishabh is optimistic about a clean sweep by ABVP. His campaign isn’t just about winning seats but about making tangible changes in the lives of students, focusing on sports, infrastructure, and affordability.

Also read: DUSU Elections: Women’s safety, metro passes, water scarcity emerge as key issues

NSUI’s Rounak Khatri vows to address student transport woes and campus upgrades

The Congress-associated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) presidential candidate, Rounak Khatri, stressed resolving the issue of transportation, which consumes a major part of students’ monthly expenses if elected in DUSU polls.

In a recent interview with Patriot, Khatri delved into his background and campaign priorities.

“The NSUI believes in bringing change. We always do result oriented work. We promise to provide students with metro concessional passes and free buses to facilitate DU students,” he said.

Khatri, a student at Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, hails from Narela, Delhi, and has earned a reputation for his “matkaman” campaign, aimed at improving campus facilities. His campaign narrative includes successfully advocating for the installation of water coolers and air conditioners in his college, fighting against initial rejections from the administration.

“When we demanded air conditioning, we were turned down. We then took the matter to court, and after legal proceedings, we secured a sanction of eight crore rupees for campus upgrades,” he proudly stated.

He highlighted that his five-year association with NSUI was due to the party’s commitment to freedom of expression and protest.

Khatri’s admiration for figures like Lok Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda and Delhi Congress President Devendra Yadav underscores his political alignment with the Congress party.

Left’s Saavy Gupta promises to address privatisation and gender justice

Hailing from the national capital, left-affiliated Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students’ Association (AISA) presidential candidate, Saavy Gupta, is determined to tackle some of the most pressing concerns facing students if elected to power in the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) polls.

In an interview with Patriot, Saavy Gupta, a final-year law student from the Faculty of Law and a graduate of Ramlal Anand College, shared her background and key campaign issues.

“The major issue is the growing privatisation of public universities, which has resulted in steep tuition fees, making education unaffordable for many. For instance, the LLB course now costs nearly two lakh rupees,” she says.

“Apart from this, there are several other issues that need to be resolved for the benefit of the students studying in the renowned Delhi University colleges, including the shortage of hostels and calling for controlled rental spaces to ease the accommodation burden on students,” Saavy said.

Also read: ‘Attendance norms arbitrary’, ‘way for colleges to earn money’, say students

Informing about the changes in the education system, SFI-AISA’s presidential candidate said, “There should be changes to mandatory courses and the marking system in the university. The university should also create new guidelines to bring uniformity to the attendance system.”

“Other than that, the students of DU are waiting for a concession on metro travel in the capital, as transportation consumes a major chunk of their parents’ hard earned money,” she said.

Saavy’s approach sets her apart from other candidates, particularly those from ABVP and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). She claims these groups focus on power and resources, neglecting the real needs of students. She positions herself as a voice for the common student, especially women, who lack proper representation in DUSU.

“Gender justice is a primary issue that will be resolved if we are voted to power, and AISA has always been at the forefront of advocating for better functioning of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to ensure women’s safety and justice on campus,” Saavy said, urging students to reject outdated politics and vote for candidates who genuinely represent their concerns, calling for unity to make the campus inclusive for all.

The results of the DUSU polls are scheduled for September 28