DU Students Union polls set for saffron sweep

The Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) election, polling for which began Friday, is all set for a saffron sweep with students cheering and predicting a mandate in favour of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh's (RSS) student wing, the ABVP has taken credit for removing the controversial four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) of the university and working for students' issues.

The result for the polls will be declared Saturday.

"I have voted for the ABVP. It has worked hard to remove the FYUP. It always helps students," Ujjwal Kumar, first-year B.A. Economics student at Ramjas College, told IANS.

Echoing similar sentiments, Achal, third-year Political Science student at Hindu College, told IANS that it would be a clean sweep for ABVP.

Over one lakh students from 50 colleges of Delhi University are voting to elect the president, vice-president, secretary and joint-secretary of the union.

"The ABVP has always raised students' issues whether it was the issue of the FYUP or the examination form. I think, it will do something good for students," said Achal.

Prachi Tyagi, third-year English honours student, said: "We had very good experience with the ABVP last year compared to with NSUI (National Students' Union of India). Moreover, BJP is in power, so we will have ABVP in the university."

Last year, the ABVP bagged three seats and the post of secretary went to the NSUI.

However, the Left-wing All India Students Association (AISA) is also popular among students.

"I am for AISA. It has worked for students a lot," Shikshit Gopi, first-year B.Com honours student at Ramjas College, told IANS.

"AISA does not spend money like other organisations do. In JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University), it was in power and brought many reforms. It did not waste paper and led a clean campaign," Nido Kalo, undergraduate Philosophy student at Hindu College, told IANS.