AISA looks to turn protest visibility into votes in Delhi University polls

Neha, a prominent face of the Jantar Mantar protest, addressed students at Delhi University’s North Campus during an AISA victory march earlier this month, as the organisation begins its push for the September 18 DUSU election.

AISA says it is taking the protest and student concerns into classrooms and colleges, where campaigning has already started even though candidates have not yet been named. Its month-long national campaign, GenZ Rising, is also being used to reach students. The group had earlier held a victory meet at the Arts Faculty.

The election will be counted on September 19. ABVP and NSUI have dominated DUSU for years; ABVP now holds three central-panel posts and NSUI holds one. An AISA-SFI alliance finished third last year without winning a central-panel post.

AISA and SFI are likely to contest together again, though they have not formally finalised an alliance. SFI says it will campaign on the four-year undergraduate programme, hostel concerns and curriculum changes, including through social media. AAP’s relaunched student group, ASAP, has also confirmed it will contest.

The vote will be the second DUSU election held under stricter university guidelines intended to limit campaign displays and curb money and muscle power.