DU’s indirect election plan faces backlash from student groups

Delhi University (DU) has proposed significant changes to its student union election process, recommending a shift from the current direct voting system to an indirect election model. The proposal, presented at the university’s Executive Council (EC) meeting on Thursday, aims to reduce the influence of “money and muscle power” in the elections. However, the proposal has sparked strong opposition from student organisations, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), and All India Students Association (AISA), all of whom are demanding its cancellation.

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The proposal, which was presented at the EC meeting, stems from a Delhi High Court order issued on November 11, 2024, in the case of Prashan Manchanda vs. Union of India. The court had recommended a structural shift from a single-tier election to a two-tier election system to combat defacement, and prevent the use of muscle and money power at the university level. The court had also summoned 15 candidates from the 2024 DUSU elections for defacing public and private property while campaigning.

Under the proposed system, elections would be held at the college, department, and center levels within DU, with presidents of these unions participating in a Tier II election to choose the DUSU office bearers. This decentralised approach is meant to maintain student representation at the central level while addressing the concerns raised by the court. The new model is also inspired by the university’s Internal Complaints Committee elections.

However, the proposal has not been well-received by student organisations. ABVP led a strong protest against the recommendation to introduce indirect elections. The protest, held near the Faculty of Arts at Gate No. 4, saw a large number of ABVP activists and students raising slogans against the university administration. They demanded the immediate cancellation of the proposal, calling it ‘anti-student’.

Mitravinda Karnwal, secretary of DUSU from ABVP, said, “Implementing an indirect system in the student union elections is an attempt to weaken the democratic process. This decision removes the students’ right to vote, and we will not tolerate it. We will continue to oppose it at every level to ensure that students retain their right to choose their representatives.”

Sarthak Sharma, State Secretary of ABVP Delhi, expressed concern over the proposal’s implications, saying, “Implementing an indirect system in DUSU elections is an attempt to weaken the democratic rights of students. This is a conspiracy by the university administration to limit student participation, which we will not accept under any circumstances. If this recommendation is not withdrawn, ABVP will not hesitate to escalate the movement. We will fight to protect students’ voting rights in every possible way.”

Following the protest, ABVP representatives submitted a memorandum to the DU administration, urging them to withdraw the proposal. The university administration reportedly assured them that all points related to indirect elections would be reconsidered. Additionally, they promised that any future decisions regarding student union elections would take into account the views of student organisations, their representatives, and student union officials.

Meanwhile, NSUI national president Varun Choudhary also took to social media, criticising the proposal. “The Modi government is so scared of losing the DUSU elections that it is now conspiring to cancel the elections altogether. From Panchayat to Parliament, from Bar Council to MC, elections are held everywhere—just cancel the student union elections!” he wrote. He warned the DU administration, saying, “We warn the DU administration—if there is any attempt to cancel the elections, students will respond on the streets!”

AISA, another prominent student organisation, also joined the protests, criticising the proposed indirect election system. AISA held a demonstration outside the Vice Chancellor’s office, demanding the cancellation of the proposal. Anjali, DU Secretary of AISA, said, “The indirect election is nothing but a tactic to turn the Union into a hollow institution. When the election is localised to a classroom, policy issues will take a backseat. This administration, which could never democratise the campus, now seeks to do away with all pretense.”

AISA DU Joint Secretary, Saavy, added, “What does an indirect election mean? That now, instead of spending on lakhs of posters, money will be spent on buying votes of a select few for DUSU! It will mean a toothless Union and a docile student body!”

AISA DU Vice President Sanatan further argued, “This proposal follows a pattern of this government’s anti-union stance. Most educational institutions do not have a union now. They know they cannot disband DU’s Union so easily, so they have introduced this hollowed-out model of DUSU!”

At the EC meeting on Thursday, the proposal was not discussed in detail, and the meeting was adjourned.