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Protest at Motilal Nehru College against Student Election Nominations

By DU Beat September 12, 2025

Amidst the roar of Motilal Nehru College’s student elections, the college witnessed a protest led by the students against unfair candidate nominations.

On 10th September 2025, the gates of Motilal Nehru College were closed for the teachers and the faculty by a student-led protest due to unfair intervention in student elections. The displeasure was stirred up as the students had been working on their election campaigns for the past two months, but the final list, released that day, contained only 7 names for 6 posts. This number was selected from an application of 107 students. The President candidature was permitted to a single student from the swarm of 14 nominees. This, the student protesters said, was an unjust treatment of the hopes and efforts of the students. The protest, which began at 6 in the evening, was carried out till late in the dark with the demonstrators refusing food or water. Instead of hearing the concerns of the protestors, the principal called forth police authorities, which led to a female candidate getting pushed by a male officer.

The authorities claimed attendance to be the criteria for selection. According to the official Delhi University regulations, the candidates require 50% attendance to clear their nominations, but MNLC changed it to 75% weeks prior to the elections. This became the main reason for the discourse in the student body. The students also displayed their discontent upon the appointment of a first year for the post of Vice President.

A student from the college told DU Beat,

The candidate for the position of Vice President is running unopposed even though he has been in the college for just a month, without the knowledge of any rules, or even stepping a foot in the campus all thanks to knowing people at high positions and having connections.

The protest began immediately after the release of the official list, with the students locking the gates of the college to prevent anyone from leaving the campus. The students raised their voices outside the principal’s office and the admin block also, but to no avail. The principal’s office was blocked by the protestors, and while they stood on their stance outside in the heat, the faculty refused to take any actions. The candidates went inside the office to clarify the situation with the principal but returned disheartened. The police arrived at 10 at night to break up the mob and to escort the Principal safely outside. The candidates decided to protest in front of the police vehicles but were controlled by force. It was unanimously decided to continue the protest overnight. College premises were occupied by police authorities, SSB and police vans in the morning after the gates were bolted by the protestors again. The principal arrived at around 11, finally allowing entrance into the college and had another meeting with candidates but no changes were agreed upon. This has led to all the student groups—ABVP, B.O.S.S, Ignite and other Independent candidates—coming and standing together.

Featured Image Credits: MNLC on Instagram

Ananya Agarwal

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DUB News

“Clean Campus, Green Campus”: ABVP’s Eco-Friendly Election Campaign

By DU Beat September 3, 2025

On Monday, 1st September 2025, the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) launched its new, eco-friendly “Clean Campus, Green Campus” campaign for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

The campaign featured a bicycle rally that commenced at Vishwavidyalaya Metro station and proceeded to several North Campus colleges, including Ramjas College, Hindu College, Kirori Mal College and Daulat Ram College, before concluding at the Arts Faculty.

The campaign aligns with the efforts of the student union to keep the electioneering process “environment-friendly and campus-friendly”. According to ABVP leader Harsh Atri, the union will keep introducing thoughtful, eco-friendly campaigning practices such as bicycle rallies and clean-up drives. These endeavours complement the ABVP’s goal to keep the entire process of campaigning clean, transparent, and peaceful. The union is allegedly reaching out to students and strictly adhering to the Delhi High Court guidelines in its campaigning practices.

The emphasis on responsible campaigning is well expected, as the 2024 DUSU elections had brought about legal trouble due to the violation of court directives and the Lyngdoh Committee’s guidelines for defacement of public property, leading to the halting of vote counting by the High Court until all defacement was undone and the restoration of public property had been completed.

On Thursday, 28th August 2025, the ABVP released a list of 11 probable candidates for the 2025 DUSU elections, which are set to take place on 18th September 2025. The final list of four candidates for the central panel will be released on Thursday, 11th September. The counting of votes will take place on 19th September 2025 under strict measures in order to avoid any form of defacement or disruption.

Featured Image Credits: @RohitDedhaABVP on X

Souparnika
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Campus Central

Delhi University Drops ₹1 Lakh Bond Rule for DUSU Poll Candidates

By DU Beat August 30, 2025

Delhi University tells the Delhi High Court it is scrapping the ₹1 lakh bond rule for DUSU poll candidates. Students now only submit an affidavit and security bond after petitions argued that the clause was arbitrary, exclusionary, and unconstitutional.

The Delhi University on Friday informed the Delhi High Court that candidates contesting the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections will no longer be required to deposit ₹1 lakh bond, as earlier mandated by an 8 August notification. The university said that the provision was withdrawn following widespread criticism and legal challenges.

Representing the University, counsel Rupal Mohinder submitted before Justice Mini Pushkarna that election candidates will now only need to provide an affidavit and a security bond at the time of filing nominations. The clarification came during the hearing of a petition filed by two students, Anjali and Abhishek Kumar, challenging the 8 August notification that introduced the ₹1 lakh deposit rule.

The contested notification was issued with the stated objective of preventing university defacement and public property during elections scheduled for 18 September. The university argued that the hefty bond was intended to avoid a repeat of last year’s incidents, when widespread defacement forced the High Court to delay the counting and declaration of results by nearly two months after the September 2024 polls.

However, petitioners, represented by advocate Raja Choudhary, contended that the rule was arbitrary, discriminatory, and unconstitutional under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. They argued that the provision disproportionately affected students from middle class and rural backgrounds, effectively excluding them from the electoral process. The plea further pointed out that the rule contradicted the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, which assign joint liability to candidates for defacement rather than imposing individual financial burdens.

“The impugned clause subverts the democratic ethos of student unions, turning elections into an elitist arena, contrary to judicial mandates for inclusivity,” the petition stated. It was also alleged that the registrar lacked the authority to introduce such a condition.

The 8 August notification drew sharp criticism from several students’ groups. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) earlier this month submitted a memorandum to the university administration opposing the deposit requirement. The group demanded immediate withdrawal of the provision and warned of large-scale campus agitation if it was not revoked.

Student leaders argued that the rule went against the spirit of campus democracy by restricting participation to those who could afford the steep bond. Many have also questioned the practicality of such a measure, claiming that it would not address the root causes of poster wars and graffiti.

Taking note of the university’s submission, the High Court disposed the petition filed by the two students. The court’s acknowledgement effectively removes this contentious requirement, allowing the electoral process to continue without financial hurdles for candidates.

The DUSU elections, scheduled for 18 September are a significant event in Delhi University’s political calendar and are often seen as a reflection of broader student politics across the country. With the withdrawal of the bond requirement, the focus is expected to return to key campus issues such as affordability of education, hostel facilities, and the quality of academic programs.

The university administration has yet to clarify which alternative steps, if any, will be taken to curb defacement during elections. For now, candidates will contest under the revised rules, with only one affidavit and security bond required at the time of nomination filing.

Featured Image source – Hindustan Times

Richa Choudhary

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Campus Central

Vandalism Erupts at DUSU Office Bringing Student Politics to a Dark Turn

By DU Beat August 20, 2025

In a troubling incident the night of August 18, a group of around 20–25 unidentified individuals forcefully entered the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) office. They broke open the main gate, attacked security staff, smashed glass doors, overturned chairs, damaged tables, and even destroyed an air conditioner, according to Delhi University officials. Campus authorities have confirmed that police are investigating the case, and the vandalised office has been sealed for now.

A day later, the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) condemned the act, calling it “cowardly” and blaming the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). NSUI national president Varun Choudhary alleged that ABVP had a long history of campus violence and creating unsafe spaces, particularly for women students. He described the vandalism as a “clear display of ABVP’s frustration.”

ABVP, however, rejected the charges, accusing NSUI of staging the attack to gain attention ahead of polls. In its statement, the student wing said,

Groups that are unable to work on the ground or connect with students resort to propaganda.

ABVP further alleged that the vandalism was a “media stunt” designed to tarnish its image.

Choudhary, meanwhile, said NSUI would continue to campaign on issues of affordable education, timely scholarships, social justice, and women’s safety under the banner of “Mohabbat Ki Dukan.”

This is not the first time student politics at Delhi University has seen such flashpoints. From the defacement of DUSU offices in past years to violent clashes during presidential campaigns, incidents of hostility have increasingly overshadowed the democratic spirit of campus elections. In 2023, the election season was marked by allegations of physical intimidation and misuse of money power. Many students now argue that the real issues — ranging from affordable housing and better transport to the lack of hostels and deteriorating infrastructure — rarely find space in these campaigns. Instead, the narrative is often dominated by national party rivalries that play out on campus grounds.

All this paints a clear picture: DUSU politics have shifted from simply political debate to increasingly performative and destructive spectacles. Rather than fostering constructive dialogue, recent developments suggest that winning appears to have become more about leveraging force or acts of power.

Featured Image Credit: DU Beat

Juhi Bansal

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“Anti–Common Student Nature”: DUSU Election’s ₹1 Lakh Bond Rule Faces Student Backlash

By DU Beat August 17, 2025

As the much-anticipated DUSU elections dawn upon Delhi University, the administration’s decision to impose a mandatory ₹1 Lakh bond on contesting candidates has triggered a storm of protest. What the administration portrays as a measure of accountability is being widely condemned as a deliberate financial barrier that strikes right at the heart of campus democracy. For decades, DUSU has stood as a microcosm of Indian democracy, producing leaders who went on to shape national politics. By attaching a steep financial cost to participation, the administration risks rewriting that history.

The policy has ignited rare partnerships as long-time rival student organisations come together to protest. While major organisations like ABVP and NSUI have historically housed high-profile candidates and expensive campaigns, they, too, have accused the new policy of being undemocratic and regressive. NSUI President Varun Chaudhary termed it a ‘political weapon’ that works in favour of their adversary, ABVP.

Leftist student organisations like the Student Federation of India (SFI) also demand the withdrawal of the bond, describing it as “a regressive move that is nothing short of an elitist barrier designed to exclude ordinary students from democratic participation and stifle genuine student voices”. SFI calls out the university for their “anti–common student nature”, and highlights the growing concern over the integrity of free and fair student politics in India.

The imposition of this bond also raises much larger questions, especially those that target the identity of the university itself. The protesters claim that while administrations often justify restrictions in the name of discipline, the cumulative effect is a systematic narrowing of democratic participation. In an institution renowned for its inclusivity, the bond seems like a gatekeeping tool and risks silencing those very voices the union is meant to represent. Rather than strengthening electoral integrity, the bond tethers participation to monetary capacity, shrinking democracy to those who can afford it.

With the DUSU election process now officially announced for September, the ₹1 lakh bond feels like more than just a procedural rule. For many students, it seems like a statement of who is considered fit to participate in democracy and who is not. As the elections draw closer and the campaigns gather pace, the debate over the bond is likely to remain at the centre of campus politics.

Image Source: The Hindu

Navya Chandok
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DUB News

DU Cracks Down on Poster Politics Ahead of Election Season

By DU Beat August 16, 2025

Over the years, DUSU elections have been accompanied by a flood of campaign material. Posters, banners, and flyers plastered on every available wall, pole, and surface on campus. The Delhi University Administration, in its quest to curtail the ever-growing splandour of posters during the DUSU elections that infest the infrastructure of campus, has given a set of anti-defacement guidelines to the contesting parties this year. The move comes as part of a larger effort to reduce the poster overload that takes over the university’s infrastructure each election season.

Regurgating this stance at a sensitisation programme organised under the Swachhata Hi Seva 2025 initiative, Prof Yogesh Singh told the NSS volunteers and NCC cadets that, “We will not vote for the candidate who has more printed posters.”

He urged the studentsto de-incentivise candidates from resorting to posters and make them “afraid of doing any defamation”. He further emphasised that keeping the campus clean is a year- round responsibility and not limited to days of drive.

The programme, with DU Registrar Dr. Vikas Gupta, Dean of Colleges Prof. Balram Pani, and other officials in attendance, slipped in a pledge against drug addiction. Prof. Singh, meanwhile, likened the challenge to the Yamuna’s pollution, a reminder that the youth hold the mop and bucket for a “developed” India.

In 2024, the Delhi High Court had directed the university to ensure all campaign graffiti and posters were removed before vote counting could begin. The court made it clear that the exercise was “corrective rather than punitive” and ordered that results, originally scheduled for September 27, be declared only after DU submitted an affidavit confirming the clean-up. The outcome was eventually announced in November.

This year, the administration has gone an extra mile to enforce the new guidelines by making the candidates sign a 1 lakh bond to ensure no violations in addition to signing the anti-defacement affidavit. This sort of strictness is only comparable to the anti-ragging policy.

Whether these efforts will actually bore fruit is yet to be seen as Delhi University awaits its (in)famous election season, the timeline of which was released recently. For now, at least we have an idea of where the administration stands in midst of it all.

Image Credits: Ayushmaan for DU Beat

Yashika Jain
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Campus Central

DU Weighs Changes to ₹1 Lakh Bond Rule Before Campus Polls

By DU Beat August 16, 2025

Delhi University (DU) is reconsidering its rule requiring candidates in the DU Students’ Union (DUSU) elections to submit a ₹1,00,000 bond. Introduced on August 8 as part of new poll guidelines to curb campus defacement ahead of the September elections, the rule forms part of a wider framework aligned with court orders and Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. These directives also mandate an anti-defacement affidavit, limit rallies and loudspeaker use, and impose penalties for violations. The bond requirement has drawn sharp criticism from student organisations, who say it imposes an unfair financial burden, especially on candidates from underprivileged backgrounds. A senior DU official told The Hindustan Times that the University is reviewing the provision in light of these objections.

According to the guidelines, “Each contesting candidate shall be required to execute a bond of Rs. 1.00 Lakh for the offence of any defacement/violation of provisions of these Guidelines by themselves or their supporters, at the time of filing nomination for any post of DUSU.”

Speaking to The Hindustan Times, Chief Election Officer Raj Kishore Sharma said that during a meeting with students and representatives of student organisations, participants expressed unwillingness to pay the bond. Following the discussion, the election office asked them to submit written representations to the university administration by August 16. The matter will be reviewed again before a final decision is taken.

The backdrop to these new regulations lies in the 2024 DUSU election, when widespread vandalism during campaigning led the Delhi High Court to intervene. As a result, vote counting was delayed by nearly two months, pending the removal of defaced property and its restoration.

Last week, university officials reaffirmed a zero-tolerance stance on defacement, limiting campaign materials to handmade posters, imposing expenditure limits, and promising to set up “walls of democracy” in colleges as approved spaces for election displays. They also agreed, following student suggestions, that these “walls” would be formally recommended for both college-level and university-wide elections.

Sharma further affirmed, “Following last year’s incidents, the university submitted a set of reform suggestions to the court aimed at preventing defacement this year, which included the ₹1,00,000 bond requirement. However, in view of the opposition from students, we have yet to take a final decision.”

The university has notified the schedule for this year’s elections—the DUSU elections will be held on September 18, with counting scheduled for September 19. The notification also sets September 10 as the deadline for filing nominations along with a ₹500 demand draft, affidavit, and ₹1 lakh bond, followed by scrutiny and the publication of nominated candidates the same day. The withdrawal deadline is September 11, after which the final list will be released. Voting will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for day classes and 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for evening classes.

With the deadline for filing nominations less than a month away, the fate of the ₹1 lakh bond provision remains uncertain. Student bodies await the administration’s final decision, which could determine whether the upcoming polls proceed under the contentious rule or with revised guidelines. For now, preparations for the September 18 elections continue under the shadow of last year’s controversies and the university’s push for cleaner, regulation-bound campaigning.

Image Credits: Deepanshi for DU Beat

Neeraja Unnikrishnan
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NSUI Launches Protest Demanding DU to Implement 12 Days of Menstrual Leave Per Semester Policy

By DU Beat August 15, 2025

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) launched a protest on 13th August at the Arts Faculty of Delhi University’s North Campus calling for 12 days of menstrual leave per semester for female students of DU. Using the slogan, ‘From Pain to Power,’ and imprinting nearby walls with red handprints, the protest gained traction from students across the DU circuit.

The demonstration, carrying out a signature campaign in furtherance of their advocacy, was held under police supervision.

“Every signature is a stand for dignity, equality, and the right of female students to rest without stigma,” NSUI had claimed via a post on their official Instagram account.

Varun Choudhary, the nationwide President of NSUI emphasised on menstrual leave as a basic right for every female student, stating that, “We will continue the fight until Delhi University implements this rule, as this provision exists in many universities in India and abroad. NSUI has also fought for this in Panjab University,” he said.

According to the student outfit, menstrual health significantly influences female students’ academic outcomes, mental well-being, and active involvement in campus life. They emphasised that neglecting this concern often leaves students with the difficult choice of missing classes, or they get bound to endure considerable discomfort merely to satisfy attendance criteria, not excluding other curricular commitments that they have.

NSUI urged Delhi University to formulate policies that accommodate female students’ plight in order to make campus more inclusive and gender sensitive. The organisation vowed to continue their efforts to urge educational institutions to implement multi-stakeholder policies.

Image Credits: NSUI Delhi via Instagram

Divyanshi Dusad
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Also Read: DUSU and Central Council Elections 2025-2026: Official Timeline Announced

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Arts & Culture

DUSU And Central Council Elections 2025-2026: Official Timeline Announced

By DU Beat August 14, 2025

University of Delhi has revealed the official calendar for the election of office bearers of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) and Central Council members for the academic session 2025-2026. The announcement marks the beginning of one of the most dynamic and politically vibrant seasons of the academic year, with the election process scheduled to take place in September.

The official notification issued by the Registrar sets 10th September, 2025, as the deadline for the submission of nomination papers, which must be filed by 3:00 p.m. and accompanied by a demand draft of Rs.500, alongside an affidavit, and a bond of Rs. 1 lakh. Scrutiny of nomination papers will take place the same day at 3:15 p.m., with the list of duly nominated candidates to be published at 6:00 p.m. For DUSU positions, nomination papers must be put in a sealed box located at the Office of the Chief Election Officer, Conference Centre, University of Delhi, North Campus. For Central Council elections, nominations must be filed with the respective college or department. Nomination forms can be accessed and downloaded from the official Delhi University Website.

Candidates who wish to withdraw their nominations must do so by 11th September, 2025, before noon. The final list of candidates running for office will be published later that day at 5:00 p.m. The polling day is set for 18th September, 2025, followed by the counting of votes which will take place the next day on Friday, 19th September, 2025.

The voting process will be conducted in two stages. Students enrolled in day classes will vote during the window of 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and those in evening classes must vote from 3:00 p.m until 7:30 p.m.

The notification further aligns itself with the Code of Conduct, DUSU Constitution, and court orders from the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court. It reiterates that the procedure would be carried out in compliance with the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act (2007) and the National Green Tribunal guidelines.

With the schedule now in place, the university is set to witness a charged election season, as student organisations and candidates prepare to campaign for leadership positions in one of the country’s most closely watched student political arenas.

Image Credits: Sushil Kumar Verma

Navya Chandok
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Campus Central

AAP’s Revamped Student Wing Gears Up for DUSU Elections

By DU Beat August 9, 2025

With a rebrand, AAP’s ASAP enters the DUSU race promising a new political culture — free from education mafias and rooted in equity and reform.

The Aam Aadmi Party’s rebranded student wing, the Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), has kicked off its campaign drive a month ahead of the Delhi University Students’ Union elections. Relaunched in May with a new name and mission, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal promised to turn student activism into a force for national transformation. Previously known as the Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), the party was established in 2014 to bring AAP’s vision of “alternative politics” to campuses. CYSS made its debut in the 2015 Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections but failed to secure any seats. Despite winning the president’s post in the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council elections in 2022, CYSS’s presence and influence in campus politics remained largely limited. The party, thus, struggled to gain a foothold.

ASAP’s logo features a torch-shaped fountain pen nib. Kejriwal stated,

The mainstream politics of the past 75 years is the root cause of all problems in India,” describing the launch as a departure from a system where elections are won through the misuse of power. ASAP’s mission, he added, was to “win hearts”.

Although the on-campus presence of ASAP is comparatively smaller than that of its competitors — the BJP’s student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and the Congress’s student wing, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) — there has been a subtle shift in allegiances, with several former ABVP and NSUI members now seen in ASAP. The Lyngdoh Committee recommendations stipulate that no candidate should be allowed to spend more than ₹5,000 or use printed material such as posters and flyers; however, “money and muscle power” continue to be evident through large hoardings, the distribution of printed manifestos, and the use of branded vehicles for campaigning.

As reported by The Indian Express, Deepak Bansal, a former DUSU joint secretary (2011) and ex-ABVP member who joined CYSS in 2023, stated that contesting DUSU elections has traditionally required significant financial backing, with candidates often expected to come from affluent backgrounds even to be considered. Therefore, it closes doors on students hailing from middle-class families, who have ideas and vision but no political godfather. Another issue, highlighted by The Indian Express through Ishwar Chand — who served as ABVP’s Delhi state president from 2009 to 2015 and joined AAP last year — is that tickets are almost always given to Jats and Gurjars, typically those with political clout and money, citing a “regional advantage.” He added that it was not just ABVP, and that NSUI too operated in the same manner. A massive number of DU students from UP and Bihar are left without a voice because candidates are chosen based on wealth and caste.

Moreover, another Delhi University student told The Week that the dominant national parties don’t often pick issues that resonate with students. If they do, however, pick relevant issues, many students may turn towards them. ASAP’s entry into the DUSU race thus represents an attempt to widen the space for participation in campus politics.

In the words of AAP’s Avadh Ojha,