DU-LD POLLS 2 LAST

The student outfits attributed the low turnout to the new The student outfits attributed the low turnout to the newpolicy of allowing only those students to vote who tookadmission and paid their fees by August 31. Some students were also turned away by colleges from thevoting counters as they did not have ID cards. DUSU is the representative body of the DU students frommost colleges and faculties. Apart from DUSU, which is anumbrella council, each college has its own students’ union towhich separate elections are held. Polling began in morning colleges from 8.30 AM andconcluded by 12.30 PM, while the students of evening collegescan cast their votes from 3 PM to 7 PM. While the political slugfest at DU has over the decadesbeen between Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union ofIndia (NSUI) and RSS’ student wing Akhil Bhartiya VidyarthiParishad (ABVP), Left-affiliated All India StudentsAssociation (AISA) is vying for the central panel posts with aseries of campaigns done by the outfit in recent months tothwart alleged attempts of attacks on university campusesacross the country. Last year, ABVP had swept all four seats trouncing NSUIand AAP’s Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS). The AAP’sstudent wing is not contesting the polls this year. A total of 17 candidates are in the fray for the fourposts of DUSU office-bearers. While 7 candidates are in racefor the post of President, 4 nominations have been validatedfor the post of Vice-President. With a total of 1,23,246 voters, polling is taking placeat 117 booths in 51 colleges. PTI GJSKUN