DU releases guidelines for students' union elections

NEW DELHI: Amid the fervour of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections, the University administration has come up with guidelines for the elections campaign.

According to the guidelines, the nominated candidates of various student political outfits will have to give proper declaration, and take time from the administration or the principal of his/her college for promotion of his/her political wing.

Meanwhile, following the guidelines, candidates will not be able to run election program or campaigns in any colleges without permission.

The guidelines also state that the candidate and their supporters, during the campaign, will have tro keep their respective ID cards from concern colleges or any department of DU.

"Such norms have been issued to curb all sorts of menace during the campaign and to avoid the entry of miscreants or outsiders into the campus. Most such outsiders create problems and ruckus during the poll promotions," said a University official.

By enforcement of the guidelines, students will have to give proper information of who will be coming to the classes for election campaign.

Meanwhile, college studies will not be affected during the campaign.

Keeping security concerns in mind, there also are directives for proper arrangement of safety in hostels of different colleges of DU.

More importantly, during the campaign, student leaders have been told not to use objectionable and/or discriminatory words, casteist comments, and comment derogatory to women.

Neeraj Mishra, spokesperson for National Students' Union of India, appreciated the guidelines and advised they must be implemented properly.

Mishra, however, raised some concerns, saying: "It should be complementary for any student political wing to take permission from the college authority or from principal. Most of the time, during the DUSU election campaign, we have observed that if professors are affiliated with an ideology, they don't allow opponents to enter class and do promotions."

The guidelines also instruct that on the day of voting, if a student candidate wishes to visit the booth in a college, the principal of that particular college will be accompanying with him/her.

The first shift voting will be held from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm, and Evening college students will be able to cast votes from 3 pm to 7 pm.