Miranda House held DUSU and MHSU manifesto readings, marked by strong anti-ABVP protests as student groups outlined agendas on hostels, fees, transparency, and campus safety.
On Monday, 15th September, Miranda House hosted the manifesto reading for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) and Miranda House Students’ Union (MHSU) elections. Held in the college’s main auditorium, the event saw representatives of ABVP, NSUI, SFI-AISA, AISF, DISHA and independent candidates present their agendas to the student body. Each panel was given ten minutes to speak to the audience.
Despite a set schedule, the proceedings were repeatedly disrupted and delayed. Heavy anti-ABVP sloganeering erupted prior to ABVP’s Mitravinda Karanwal’s speech, the outgoing DUSU General Secretary (2024-25). Organisers and members of the Student Union were seen engaging in tense exchanges with those raising slogans, asking them multiple times to maintain decorum. In a particularly dramatic moment, a student stood up on her chair and raised her footwear in the air during Karanwal’s speech, sparking intense reactions. The trend of anti-ABVP sentiments during election season has repeated in Miranda House for a few years now, with the tense atmosphere on Monday being no exception.
The auditorium remained packed to full capacity throughout the four-hour programme, with students waiting outside the door to gain entry.
In her address, Karanwal highlighted the successes of ABVP-led DUSU in mobilizing student voices. She laid focus on increasing hostel facilities, increasing financial support for fourth-years and campus accessibility. Rahul Jhansla, the Vice-Presidential candidate of NSUI, also raised issues of increasing hostel capacities and fee affordability. He brought focus to NSUI’s condemnation and on-ground inquiry into the fee hike in Shaheed Bhagat Singh College.
Anjali, the Presidential candidate from AISA and Abhinandana Pratyashi, the Secretary Candidate from SFI, spoke on behalf of the SFI-AISA panel. They spoke on the ‘atmosphere of hooliganism and violence’ created by ABVP and NSUI. They laid out their goals of securing concessional metro passes, scrapping SEC/VAC courses and revival of Internal Complaints Committees among others.
Yogesh Meena, Presidential candidate on behalf of DISHA, underscored the need for an independent student organization in DUSU politics. Ameeliya Varghese, Joint Secretary candidate of AISF-AIDSO and Divyanshu Singh Yadav, an independent candidate for the Presidential post also spoke at the proceedings.
MHSU candidates including both independent students and those affiliated with larger political outfits brought up issues such as improving infrastructure, Wi-Fi accessibility, transparency within the college. MHSU elections are fought for the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Central Councillors.
Image credit: Anjali Paruvu
caption : Mitravinda Karenwal addresses Miranda House amidst anti-ABVP sloganeering
Anjali Paruvu
