In DUSU polls, lesser-known unions silently strive for students’ cause

Every time Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) goes to elections, the spotlight invariably shines on two student organisations — the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Congress-linked National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).

But behind the scenes, some lesser-known student unions wage a quiet but resilient battle for relevance, visibility and fair competition. These organisations, though committed to student causes, often face hurdles that the mainstream groups rarely encounter.

Among these smaller players are the Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), the Indian National Students’ Organisation (INSO) and the Disha Students’ Organisation (DSO).

Each has a unique history and approach, but all share one common struggle — surviving and making an impact in a campus political landscape dominated by money, muscle power and national-level party influence.

The ASAP, launched in May 2025 by Arvind Kejriwal as the student wing of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is the rebranded version of the earlier Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS). Designed to bring “alternative politics” into the campus elections, the ASAP’s mission is to challenge the influence of money and muscle power. However, even this vision has faced setbacks.

Kamal Tiwari, former senior vice-president of the ASAP, said, “This year, it was decided that the organisation would contest the DUSU polls. But at the last moment, after our candidate had filed the nomination, the party decided not to participate in the elections.”

“There is no clarity from the party’s officer-bearers, which has caused the student organisation to suffer. The decision to withdraw may be linked to our poor performance in the Panjab University student elections, where we failed to win any seats,” he added.

The INSO, student wing of Haryana’s Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) has been active in DU for several years. While it has not won top positions in DUSU, it works to create visibility for the JJP among Delhi-NCR students, particularly those from Haryana.

Amrendra Yadav, INSO’s Delhi state general secretary, explained the structural challenges faced by small unions: “The reason behind the dominance of the ABVP and the NSUI in the DUSU elections lies in money and muscle power. Both these advantages are often associated with national parties, making it difficult for smaller student unions to compete on a level playing field.”

“If the DUSU elections were conducted strictly according to the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, we would see a shift in the current dominance. Leaders from national parties heavily participate in campaigns, drawing attention away from smaller student unions and undermining fair competition,” he added.

The Disha Students’ Organisation (DSO), which emerged as a significant force during the 2023 DUSU elections, positions itself as a neutral, revolutionary alternative focused on student issues rather than party politics. Yet, limited resources and minimal support make sustaining momentum throughout the year challenging.

“With limited resources, minimal support and the constant pressure to remain visible and active, even small tasks can feel overwhelming. During elections, these difficulties intensify, yet we continue to push forward, driven by the hope of giving every student a voice and making their concerns heard, despite the odds stacked against us,” said a DSO representative.

Other small unions, including the Students’ Progressive Alliance (SPA) and Youth for Democratic Change (YDC), face similar hurdles. Financial constraints, lack of organisational infrastructure and low media visibility often limit their activity to election season, where they try to mobilise students and present alternatives to the dominant narratives set by the ABVP and the NSUI.

The core challenge lies in structural inequalities in student elections. While national political and social organisations-backed unions like the ABVP and the NSUI enjoy funding, widespread networks and influential campaigns, smaller organisations rely primarily on grassroots mobilisation. As a result, the broader student body rarely sees these unions in action outside election cycles, despite the fresh perspectives they bring to campus politics.