Women’s representation in Delhi varsity students’ union remains alarmingly low
Despite increased political engagement in recent years, women’s representation in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) remains strikingly low, with both the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) consistently fielding female candidates only for the secretary post.
‘Male-dominated space’
There are multiple reasons why female representation is low in the DUSU panel. It’s a male-dominated space, and women often cower down. Parents also don’t allow their daughters to get involved in campaigning and
political matters. — Aarushi, a Daulat Ram College student
Students and political observers cite multiple barriers preventing women from contesting top positions, including a lack of support, limited political aspirations and the dominance of male candidates with greater muscle and money power.
In the 65 years since DUSU’s inception, only 10 women have been elected as president, raising concerns about the inclusivity of student politics at the university. The last female DUSU president, Nupur Sharma from the ABVP, served during the 2008-2009 batch. Since then, female candidates have rarely been fielded for top positions, with the ABVP and NSUI last nominating women for the presidency in 2011 and 2019, respectively.
Aarushi, a student from Daulat Ram College, said, “There are multiple reasons why female representation is low in the DUSU panel. It’s a male-dominated space, and women often cower down. Parents also don’t allow their daughters to get involved in campaigning and political matters. Boys have money and muscle power that make women feel inferior.”
The overwhelming presence of male candidates with significant financial and physical backing has left many female students hesitant to contest. Several students argued that while women have the opportunity to run for office, the intimidating nature of DUSU elections, often characterised by hooliganism, discourages them from seeking leadership roles.
A student from Kirori Mal College remarked, “It’s not that women don’t get the chance. Women do contest for presidential posts at the college level, but many just don’t have the political aspiration to run for the central DUSU panel. The elections are dominated by students who want to pursue a career in politics, and those who want to focus on their education avoid it.”
The trend of underrepresentation has been further exacerbated by internal dynamics within the major student organisations, with both ABVP and NSUI being predominantly male-driven.
Ravnoor, a student from Khalsa College, observed, “Even if a female member wants to run for a higher position, she’d feel intimidated. In my college, there have been conflicts between students and the parties, and you can see there’s suppression of minorities and women. In such circumstances, how will women feel confident enough to participate?”
Female students also pointed out that a lack of long-term preparation and support has contributed to the low female representation. “Girls don’t start preparing long in advance like boys do for these elections,” said Bhumika from Shyama Prasad College. “These girls don’t come forward on their own; they’re put forward by the student unions for token representation,” she added.
In an effort to address this issue, Shabana Hussain, a student from the Faculty of Law, recently filed a petition demanding 50 per cent women reservation for DUSU office-bearers. On September 11, the Delhi High Court directed the university’s Vice-Chancellor to address the matter.
Despite the scale and visibility of DUSU elections, female students continue to struggle for adequate representation. While assurances of inclusivity are made, the barriers that women face in university politics remain entrenched, leaving many to question the true commitment of political organisations and university administrators to fostering gender equality in student governance.
Women like former DUSU presidents, including Congress leaders Alka Lamba, Ragini Nayak and BJP leader Nupur Sharma, stand as rare examples of female leadership in a largely male-dominated arena, highlighting the work that remains to ensure greater participation of women in Delhi University’s political landscape.
