Left retains its hold over DUTA president's post

New Delhi: The Left party retained its hold over the post of president of the Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) with the DTF candidate defeating BJP- affiliated National Democratic Teachers Front nominee (NDTF).

The DTF's candidate Rajib Ray bagged the seat from the closest rival from NDTF with a decisive margin of 261 votes.

Three candidates from the DTF's Executive panel, Biswajit Mohanty, Mithuraaj Dhusiya and Najma Rehmani were also elected to the DUTA Executive council. In DUTA's elected Executive Committee of 15 members, four are from the NDTF.

With the president, they will elect the vice-president, secretary, joint secretary, treasurer and five more members to the executive council.

Ahead of the elections, Ray posted a letter on DTF to the fraternity of DU teachers appealing them to "save the idea of a university, we want for our children."

He called for the unity of teachers and emphasised and said, "We must be able to stand up against every unreasonable and vindictive minister, official, principal and bureaucrat."

"It must be able to isolate all those who work against Unity and cynically line up to get exclusive favors from the MHRD, UGC and University Administration. Only then will our fight against the hostile policies begin in right earnest," he added.

Criticising the government, he wrote: "Over the last few years, the government has unleashed an aggressive set of changes that threaten our security, the dignity of our profession, our opportunities and the inclusive character of our education system."

According to the official, the central government has chosen to unleash the worst possible set of policy changes based on a blueprint prepared by the NITI Aayog.

He added, "The DTF is committed to fight for speedy permanent appointments, ensuring long overdue promotions, an end to the severe harassment by withholding of pensions, and a just pay revision with improved service conditions."