DUSU Polls Low Turnout: Voting Ends With Only 35% Participation, Counting Delayed Due to Court Orders
DUSU polls low turnout of 35% in the DUSU polls, with counting delayed due to court orders. Find out the key issues, controversies, and next steps in this year’s elections!
The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections this year saw a significantly low voter turnout of just 35.2%. This marks a sharp decline compared to last year’s 42%. Over 51,300 students across various colleges, departments, and institutes cast their votes. It will elect representatives for four key positions. But, the vote counting process has been delayed due to a Delhi High Court order. The court has paused the counting until concerns about the defacement of campus property are addressed.
Voting Process and Details
The DUSU polls took place in two phases throughout the day. Students in day classes voted between 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM. Those in evening classes voted between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Out of 145,893 eligible voters, only 35.2% participated, a noticeable drop from the 42% turnout in the previous year.
The DUSU polls low turnout reflects a growing disinterest or apathy among students in the election process. Despite the importance of these elections in shaping campus policies, many students did not turn up to vote.
DUSU polls low turnout: Court-Ordered Delay in Counting
Initially, the results were expected to be announced the day after the polls. However, the Delhi High Court intervened, delaying the counting process. The court has halted the declaration of results until the university cleans up the defacement. Too much littering has been caused due to campaign activities. Several complaints were raised about posters, flyers, and other campaign materials. These are littering the campus and damaging public property.
A university official confirmed this news. Counting will proceed only after the court is satisfied that these issues have been resolved. This delay has left both students and candidates waiting anxiously for the outcome.
Rampant Defacement and Littering
Even with the court’s instructions, defacement and littering continued to plague the campus on polling day. North Campus streets were covered in pamphlets and posters. Flyers were seen being thrown from vehicles, creating a mess in several areas. Particularly affected were the intersections of Chhatra Marg and Sudhir Bose Marg. These places were heavily littered with campaign material.
Some areas appeared cleaner, such as parts of the Chhatra Marg stretch. But, the problem of defacement was still visible in certain parts of the campus. Most of the campaign materials were cleared before polling began, but some areas, like DU’s ‘Wall of Democracy,’ still had posters up.
DUSU Polls Low Turnout: Disappointment Among Students
The DUSU polls low turnout has raised concerns about the lack of strict enforcement of election rules. Many students felt that the university administration had been lenient. They haven’t taken strict procedures toward candidates and parties responsible for campus defacement. Despite the high court’s order, visible damage remained throughout polling day.
Students like Santosh Kumar, a law student, expressed their frustration. They believe that the Lyngdoh Committee rules should be strictly enforced. Otherwise, parties with more money and influence will continue to dominate. This discourages smaller, independent candidates from running. They cannot compete with the resources of larger political organizations.
DUSU Polls Low Turnout: Issues Driving Student Votes
Despite the DUSU polls low turnout, students who did vote had strong opinions on the issues they wanted addressed.
Common concerns included:
- Women’s safety on campus
- Improved last-mile connectivity
- More scholarships
- Better facilities within colleges
Neha Verma is a first-year law student. She emphasized the importance of candidates fulfilling their campaign promises. She was among those who voted not for a specific party, but for candidates she believed would represent student interests.
But, some students were more sceptical. Narayan Pratap Singh is a third-year Political Science student. He doubts whether the elected candidates would deliver on their promises. He pointed out that the previous DUSU panel failed to implement many of the changes they had promised during their campaign. For him, key issues like improving college canteen facilities and providing cleaner drinking water remain unresolved.
Challenges of Student Elections
The DUSU polls low turnout has also brought attention to the broader challenges in student elections. One major concern is the influence of money and power. Students like Santosh Kumar believe that wealthy candidates and parties dominate the election process. It makes it difficult for independent candidates and smaller organizations to win.
Many feel that the university fails to strictly enforce campaign rules. It allows larger political organizations to use their resources to an unfair advantage. This discourages independent candidates. It also reduces the engagement of the student body in the election process.
Conclusion
The DUSU polls low turnout is a reflection of growing disillusionment among students with the election process. With voter turnout dropping to 35.2% and the vote counting delayed due to court orders. This year’s election has been marked by controversy and challenges. Several issues were raised during the election. Campus cleanliness to the influence of money in politics, continue to be pressing concerns for the university.
As students await the court’s decision, it remains to be seen whether the newly elected panel will address the critical issues. The future of student politics at DU will depend on how well the administration manages these challenges. Also, how seriously the elected candidates take their promises.
