ABVP sweeps DUSU elections but garners around one-third votes

However, an analysis of poll percentage shows it could garner only around 32 per cent of the total votes polled, which is less than that polled by CYSS and NSUI together (35 per cent).

DS Rawat, chief election officer of DUSU elections, said only 43.3 per cent of the total of 1,37,552 students cast their votes. The average voting poll percentage of Congress’ National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) is 19 per cent, followed by debutant Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), the students’ wing of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), at 16 per cent. The All India Students’ Association (AISA), a <g data-gr-id="38">Left wing</g> students’ body, polled 14 per cent votes.

CYSS candidate Garima Rana of Hindu College was the runner-up for the vice-president’s post. She garnered 21 per cent <g data-gr-id="29">votes,</g> but was defeated by ABVP’s Sanny <g data-gr-id="30">Dedha</g> of Law Centre by 7,570 votes -- the maximum winning margin in the election.

“The historic victory of ABVP panel indicates that youngsters have rejected the politics of freebies and false promises by AAP. They have voted for the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We won because we worked among students throughout the year, but CYSS only appeared only in posters and carried out fake pre-poll surveys,” said <g data-gr-id="39">Satendra</g> Awana, the newly-elected DUSU president, a student of the Department of Buddhist Studies.

He, however, said he would soon seek an appointment with Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and discuss issues that fall under the government’s jurisdiction such as installing CCTV cameras, U-special buses, wi-fi, new colleges and concessional passes for Delhi Metro to name a few.

“Our brand of politics without unaccounted money and muscle power has helped us secure an honourable vote percentage in our maiden attempt. The CYSS will now expand its cadre in Delhi 

University as well as other universities of India,” said AAP in a press statement.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) chief Ajay Maken blamed the CYSS for NSUI’s defeat.

Interestingly, all winners have their roots in villages. President Awana is a resident of <g data-gr-id="40">Harula</g> in Noida, vice-president <g data-gr-id="41">Dedha</g> from Jagatpur, secretary Anjali Rana of Lakshmi Bai College from Kheda and joint secretary Chhattarpal Yadav from Khaira village in Delhi.