Delhi University Students’ Union elections: SFI-AISA alliance, ABVP roll out manifestos

In the run-up to the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, the SFI-AISA (Student Federation of India - All-India Students’ Association) alliance on Saturday unveiled its manifesto, projecting itself as an alternative to what it termed the “money, muscle and gimmick politics” of the ABVP and NSUI-led unions.

The alliance said it aimed to bring students’ issues to the forefront and promised “true student-centric policies”.

The manifesto opens with a strong-worded pitch against fee hikes, calling for a rollback of recent increases across DU colleges. It also demands an end to the loan-based model of financing higher education, arguing that the system has pushed many students into financial distress.

Lack of accommodation was flagged as another major concern, with the alliance pushing for at least two hostels in every college and the implemention of the the Rent Control Act within a two-km radius of the various campuses. “Only 5 per cent students get hostel facilities despite UGC norms mandating 60 per cent. The rest are left to predatory landlords charging exorbitant rents for substandard housing,” the document states.

Gender justice and inclusivity form another key part of the alliance’s pitch. It has called for elected Internal Complaints Committees (ICC) and gender sensitisation cells in every college, along with queer sensitisation programmes. It also promised gender-neutral washrooms, menstrual leave for women students, and functional Equal Opportunity and Grievance Redressal Cells to tackle caste- and religion-based discrimination.

The manifesto takes sharp aim at the National Education Policy (NEP) and the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), pledging to scrap “bogus” Skill Enhancement and Value-Added Courses (SEC, VAC) such as yoga and Fit India, and restore core course credits. It also calls for a revision of the new internal assessment scheme, removal of mandatory attendance and debarment policies, and a return to DU’s entrance exams instead of the CUET conducted by the NTA, which the alliance described as “a farce riddled with paper leaks.”

Students’ welfare is placed at the centre of the proposals, including demands for concessional Metro passes, improved bus services, subsidised nutritious food in canteens, reactivation of DU’s medical centre, mental health clinics in every college, and fully-accessible campuses for students with disabilities. The alliance also pledged to set up a Merit-cum-Means Fellowship for underprivileged students.

On the cultural front, it called for more funding for sports and student societies, gymnasiums in every college and infrastructural upgrades such as solutions for waterlogging in campus spaces.

The manifesto concludes with a call for electoral reforms in DUSU elections, including presidential debates at the college and cluster level, issue-based candidature and strict action against defacement, traffic violations, and displays of wealth and muscle power. Transparency in union functioning was also promised, with the alliance vowing to publish DUSU’s annual budget and expenditure online for public scrutiny.

ABVP: Metro passes, free Wi-Fi, new hostels on agenda

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Saturday released its manifesto for the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, promising subsidised Metro passes, free Wi-Fi access, subsidised health insurance, new hostels and accessibility measures for specially-abled students.

The manifesto, prepared after reviewing over 5,000 student suggestions, was unveiled at a press conference attended by ABVP National General Secretary Dr Virendra Singh Solanki, National Secretary Shivangi Kharwal, State Secretary Sarthak Sharma, and the four central panel candidates — Aryan Maan (president), Govind Tanwar (vice president), Kunal Chaudhary (secretary), and Deepika Jha (joint secretary).

The document prioritises education, security, health, sports and employment. It promises subsidised health insurance, more funding for college societies, better sports equipment and research funds for final-year scholars. Other highlights include accessibility audits for inclusive campuses, hostels for students, timely declaration of results, and the promotion of East and West campuses on par with North and South campuses.

Listing past achievements, the ABVP said its leadership had secured U-Special bus services, approval for new women’s hostels, a foundation stone for a Student Activity Centre, internship programmes and measures for women’s safety on campus.

Dr Solanki said the manifesto “reflects ABVP’s belief that students are active citizens of today” and promised a year-round commitment to student issues. Presidential candidate Aryan Maan highlighted free Wi-Fi and accessibility audits, while vice-presidential nominee Govind Tanwar stressed placement cells, job fairs and AI certification programmes.

Secretary candidate Kunal Chaudhary pledged health cards and open gyms, while joint secretary nominee Deepika Jha outlined inclusive measures such as sanitary pad vending machines, permanent gynaecologists, scholarships for transgender students and gender equality workshops.