Cong-backed NSUI wins Delhi Univ polls

The National Students Union of India backed by the Congress bagged all the four posts in the Delhi University Students Union Elections.

Amrita Bahari was elected president while Devraj Tehlan was elected vice president. The new joint secretary and secretary are Khushboo Sharma and Manish Chaudhary respectively.

Counting started at around 10.30 am on Saturday morning. Minutes after the results were announced a huge crowd -- mainly comprising NSUI supporters -- erupted in joy. The winners were garlanded and later taken on a procession.

The new president Amrita Bahari said that this was a win dedicated to the students of the Delhi University.

She said that top on her priority would be the security of girl students. She also said that there is a need to set up more hostels in the university. She also said that committees will be set up to monitor the problems of the students.

While 53 per cent voters turned out in 2006, this year just about 35 per cent students voted.

Students said that they preferred to stay away from the elections as the polls were very political and mired in controversy since day one. A committee headed by former chief election commissioner J Lyndogh was set up.

The committee had recommended that no student with examination arrears could participate in the polls. As a result of these recommendations over 200 had lost their candidature majority of who were from the BJP-backed ABVP.

For the ABVP it was a major set back. The ABVP did not win a single seat this year. Last year it had managed to win just one seat. The ABVP was backing heavily on the negative publicity which the NSUI had received after one its members had been caught on camera talking about a large amount of money he was spending in the elections.

The committee had recommended that each candidate could spend just Rs 5000 on campaign.

Tight security arrangements continued even on Saturday as the police were anticipating trouble. Several police personnel including the rapid action were positioned. However no untoward incident was reported and the after poll celebrations went on peacefully.