‘UNFAIR’ VOTING IN DU SPARKS UNREST
Students of Daulat Ram College protest against ‘fraudulent voting’ in the recent Delhi University Students’ Union elections
While DU celebrated the newly appointed Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) last Friday, the atmosphere in Daulat Ram College (DRC) was a stark contrast. Students had flooded the halls of the college and the road in front of it, holding banners that screamed, ‘Justice for DRC’ and ‘Save DRC’. They were seen demanding re-elections, shouting out slogans such as ‘Fraudulent voting nahi chalegi’ and ‘We want justice for DRC’.
What sparked the protest, you wonder? Unfair college union elections — there were a total of eight posts and the students had to vote for a candidate for each, or their vote would be considered invalid. However, the result —1439 votes for president, 1474 votes for vice president, and 1655 votes for the general secretary position — had a varying count of votes, thereby indicating malpractice.
Nishita Narwal, the outgoing president of DRC, who stood in support of the students, said, “When we have certain rules, they should be followed. The varying vote count told us that there was something definitely wrong with the process. Students who stood in line for hours to cast their votes shouldn’t feel cheated this way. And, that is why all students demanded a re-election, to keep things fair and transparent.”
Students alleged that the advisory panel for the elections in college and the principal had pointed out an error in the EVMs and promised reelections, but later made a U-turn.
Komal, a student of DRC, said, “I stand with the students protesting here because I feel cheated due to the unfair means used in the elections. We demand re-elections, not because I am supporting a certain union member, but because we, the students of DRC, deserve transparent and fair elections. We cannot stay silent when we see unfair means being used.”
Ritu, another student, agrees: “When the advisory panel and the principal promised us re-elections and agreed that there was indeed an error with the EVMs, we were elated. But now they have backed out, and this is one big reason we have been protesting since morning. It is our right to have fair and transparent elections, but nobody is willing to listen to us, and we are being told that we cannot raise a voice. This is unfair, and I am hoping that someone hears us out, and helps.”
We tried reaching the college authorities, including the principal, but no one was available for a clarification.
The students, meanwhile, say that they will continue the fight for fair elections in college and will not settle for a union that is formed out of ‘unfair practices’.