Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – Delhi University finds itself embroiled in controversy as the election committee’s decision to exclude the BASF (Bhim Army Student Federation) and Fraternity Movement’s alliance from participating in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election has sparked protests among students.
The controversy erupted after the election committee selectively canceled the participation of the BASF-FRATERNITY alliance, citing unspecified reasons for the rejection of their candidates. This decision raised questions about transparency and fairness in the election process.
One of the significant grievances was the rejection of Yaseen K Muhammed, the BASF-FRATERNITY Vice President candidate. Initially verified after scrutiny, his candidacy was suddenly rejected when the final candidate list was released at 6 pm on the previous day. Similarly, Shailender Singh, who had filed his nomination for the Presidential post, was rejected without any explanation during the nomination process.
The situation further escalated when, at Hindu College, two candidates who filed nominations for central council (CC) posts under the same alliance were rejected, despite having good academic records and sufficient attendance. As a result, the final list of candidates for the DUSU election included only one eligible candidate from each party, raising concerns about a lack of representation and choice for students.
Critics argue that the exclusion of the BASF-FRATERNITY alliance reflects a deliberate attempt by the university to limit the representation of marginalized communities, particularly Dalit and Muslim students, on the campus. This incident has sparked accusations of bias and favoritism in the election process.
“The arbitrary decision taken by Delhi University is nothing but their fascist agenda to exclude Dalit and Muslim assertion on the campus,” stated one student activist, highlighting the deep-seated concerns surrounding the university’s commitment to equality, representation, and social justice.
In response to the controversial decision, students gathered at the Science faculty to peacefully protest and demand an explanation for the unjust rejection of candidates. However, the situation took a violent turn when university guards locked the protesting students inside the building, leading to clashes. Reports indicate that several students were brutally thrashed, and women students were manhandled by the university guards.
It was only after considerable pressure that the students were allowed to submit a memorandum seeking an explanation for the rejection of candidates, even though they had passed the scrutiny process.
The incident has cast a shadow over the upcoming DUSU election, raising concerns about the fairness and integrity of the electoral process at Delhi University. As students continue to demand transparency and accountability, the university administration faces mounting pressure to address these allegations and restore faith in the democratic process within the institution.
