Rounak Khatri of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Bhanu Pratap of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) emerged as the top contenders in the highly anticipated Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) 2024 elections, with the results announced on today on November 25th.
In a split verdict, NSUI claimed the President and Joint Secretary posts, with Khatri and Lokesh Choudhary securing victories, while ABVP secured the Vice President and Secretary positions through Bhanu Pratap and Mitravinda Karanwal.The electrifying face-off also spotlighted the broader rivalry between the Congress-backed NSUI, RSS-affiliated ABVP, and the Left-alliance of AISA and SFI, making it one of the most closely watched elections in recent years.
NSUI claims victory, ABVP follows closely with 6,101 votes
NSUI’s Rounak Khatri has emerged victorious in the DUSU presidential election, surpassing ABVP’s Rishabh Chaudhary by more than 1,300 votes, according to PTI. Bhanu Pratap Singh of the ABVP won the Vice President race with a large number of votes.
The DUSU elections witnessed an impressive voter turnout this year, with 51,379 students casting their votes out of 1.45 lakh eligible voters. The elections took place as planned on September 27, 2024.
However, the counting of votes, initially scheduled for September 28, was postponed following a Delhi High Court directive addressing allegations of public property defacement during campaigning. The counting process resumed on November 25, 2024, under strict oversight at the North Campus building.
DUSU Elections 2024: Who were this year’s key contenders?
For the President’s post, ABVP’s Rishabh Chaudhary faced NSUI’s Ronak Khatri, with Left-backed candidate Saavy Gupta (AISA) also in the running. The Vice President race was contested by ABVP’s Bhanu Pratap Singh, NSUI’s Yash Nadal, and AISA’s Ayush Mondal.
The Secretary position saw ABVP’s Mitravinda Karanwal competing against NSUI’s Namrata Jeph Meena and SFI’s Anamika K. Lastly, for the Joint Secretary post, ABVP’s Aman Kapasia went up against NSUI’s Lokesh Choudhary and Sneha Aggarwal from SFI.
NSUI’s bold blueprint for DUSU 2024: A promise to revolutionise student life
NSUI’s manifesto includes promoting an inclusive and supportive educational environment by prioritising affordable and accessible education for all students. This involves reversing unjust fee hikes, opposing the privatisation of education, and ensuring services such as 24/7 library access and free Wi-Fi across campuses. Additionally, establishing railway reservation counters and providing free metro passes would ease student travel, while a centralised placement cell would offer better employment opportunities and career guidance. Enhancing campus infrastructure and offering affordable, round-the-clock mess services would further support student well-being.
The manifesto also calls for transparency in the allocation of DUSU funds to ensure accountability. It advocates for the abolition of the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) and the expansion of scholarships for SC, ST, and OBC students to alleviate financial burdens.
Promoting a violence-free, inclusive campus through gender sensitisation and mental health workshops, alongside free shuttle bus services, would foster a positive, equitable atmosphere for all students, according to NSUI’s manifesto.
DUSU Elections 2024: ABVP’s vision for campus transformation and student empowerment
The manifesto focuses on improving the admission process, campus infrastructure, and examination systems, alongside advocating for employment-oriented education. ABVP promises a “One Course, One Fee” structure for postgraduate students, the creation of Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) in every college, and the establishment of high-tech reading rooms and campus-wide Wi-Fi.
Enhancing student safety, the manifesto proposes better grievance redressal mechanisms, women’s hostels, and sanitary napkin vending machines. It also includes initiatives for increased scholarships for OBC, SC, and ST students, discounted metro passes, and adjustments to the Dearness Allowance (DA).
Additionally, the manifesto calls for job fairs, skill development programs, internships, industry-specific courses, and mental health support. ABVP is committed to implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) to better prepare students for the future.
Tracing DUSU’s Legacy: Power shifts and political milestones
The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, held since 1954, are crucial for the 52 affiliated colleges within the university. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has been a dominant force, particularly in 2015 when it won all four key posts.
ABVP’s influence continued with victories in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2023, securing three posts each time. However, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) challenged this control in 2017 by winning two posts and frequently securing the vice-president position. Voter turnout has fluctuated, from 36.90% in 2016 to 43.80% in 2018, reflecting the changing dynamics of student politics at Delhi University.
