DU, JNU to see student polls Friday

Two prominent universities in the national capital, Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), will see polling for their respective students' unions Friday, Sep 13.

The Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections will see a contest between the the two major groups, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI, backed by the Congress) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP, the students' wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh).

These two parties have been campaigning much before the announcement of the date of elections, defacing the walls of the university campus with posters.

Though the elections are entirely managed by the administration of the colleges within Delhi University, there have been several reports of clashes between the supporters of NSUI and ABVP and some students have been injured in the clashes.

In Delhi University, there are 12 candidates each contesting for the posts of president and vice president besides 17 contestants for the post of secretary, and 10 for the post of joint secretary.

Providing opportunities for candidates to voice their mandate through the varsity radio and website, the DU election in-charge has also written to the students, urging them to vote.

"I appeal to all of you to participate in the elections in large numbers and vote without fear, coercion, prejudice and temptation of any kind. While selecting the candidate of your choice, you should keep in mind the candidates who can truly represent you in the decision-making bodies of the university," reads a letter to the students by Ashok Vohra, chief election officer.

The JNU students' polls are managed by the students themselves, and left wing parties have held sway here.

Hand-made posters have been put up all over the JNU campus, and candidates contesting for the posts of vice president, secretary and joint secretary tried to sway fellow-students and voters at the general body meeting held here Tuesday.

A presidential debate will also take place Wednesday.

There are eight candidates contesting for the post of president at JNU. There are also five contestants for the post of vice-president, six for general secretary, and three for joint secretary in JNU.