Eco-friendly campaigning takes centre stage in DU poll

The countdown to the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections has begun, and campuses are already abuzz with anticipation. With polling scheduled for 18 September and results to be declared the following day, student leaders and organisations are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to woo voters.

This year’s election is unlike any before. Following a directive from the Delhi High Court, the university has introduced stringent eco-friendly measures to curb property defacement. Posters and pamphlets are now permitted only on designated “Walls of Democracy” in each college. Principals have been appointed as “anti-defacement heads” to ensure compliance, putting a stop to random wall-writing and campus littering.

Adapting to these restrictions, student groups are experimenting with creative and sustainable methods. Volunteers can be seen holding posters instead of pasting them, pamphlets are being handed out directly, and social media has become the most powerful campaigning tool. Many candidates are also turning to handmade posters and direct peer interaction.

“We are conducting eco-friendly elections under the theme Clean Campus, Green Campus. For our campaign, we are using leaves, handmade posters, and also leveraging social media,” said ABVP Delhi state secretary Sarthak Sharma.

The political stage remains vibrant, with familiar rivals and fresh challengers in the fray. Traditional contenders — the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) — are once again in the spotlight. However, the AISA–SFI alliance has emerged as a serious competitor. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party-backed ASAP, making its debut this year, is aiming to establish its footprint.

Amidst the campaigning, students’ concerns remain at the heart of the discourse. Rising tuition fees, limited hostel availability, safety issues on and around campuses, and demands for metro fare concessions dominate the agendas of nearly all organisations. Candidates are projecting themselves as champions of affordability, welfare and accessibility in higher education.

As election day approaches, Delhi University is witnessing a dynamic confluence of eco-friendly campaigning, spirited debates, and digital outreach. With tradition meeting innovation, and old rivals challenged by new entrants, the DUSU Elections 2025 promise to be among the most competitive and closely watched contests in recent memory.