This article contains the latest updates on DUSU elections, including the 36% first-phase turnout, evening polling, security arrangements and the Delhi High Court’s directions on election violations.
Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections are ongoing across the university. There have been around 36% voter turnout recorded in the first phase of polling on Friday. Voting for students of evening colleges began at 3 pm and will continue until 7:30 pm. This time 1.51 lakh students and even more are eligible to vote in this year’s elections, which are being held for the posts of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary. They will also be held for college representatives.
Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections voting began on Friday with students of day colleges casting their votes from 8:30 am to 1 pm. The first phase recorded around 36% voter turnout and polling for evening colleges started at 3 pm. It was scheduled to continue until 7:30 pm. Students are basically voting for the four central panel posts- president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary, along with college representatives. The elections are being held amid heightened security across the university, with additional personnel deployed at polling centres and sensitive locations.
The second phase brought evening-college students into the electoral process. This time polling beginning at 3 pm. Students were required to carry their college identity cards to vote at their respective polling centres. The university has also made arrangements to facilitate voting across colleges. There have been a setting of 158 polling booths and 12 control rooms for the election. Electronic voting machines are being used for the DUSU polls. And there are about 1,100 machines deployed across the university. After polling concludes, the machines will be secured before they are taken up for counting. The counting of votes is scheduled for September 19.
The DUSU polls have also drawn attention from the Delhi High Court over alleged violations during the election campaign. On Friday, the court issued notices to 140 candidates over violations of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. Which includes the election model code and earlier court directions. The court also barred candidates and student groups from holding victory processions after the results are announced. The Delhi Police told the court that 49 vehicles had been confiscated, more than 5,400 challans issued and four people arrested in connection with election-related violations. The court has also sought action from the authorities to prevent further violations during the election process.
Once voting ends, the electronic voting machines will be secured ahead of the counting process scheduled for September 19. The results will decide the students who will represent Delhi University at the central union level for the coming term. And again, along with the elected college representatives. The outcome will also bring an end to the current election cycle and set the direction for student representation and campus issues in the months ahead.
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