Delhi University Election Culture

If you are a Delhi University Student there is 99% possibility that you remember walking in on your first day as a clueless fresher and groups of students surrounding you ,asking for votes and handing out pamphlets or hearing the words -“vote for the deserving candidate “ over and over. The view of thousands of papers with candidates’ name and picture , the students shouting to vote for their parties, candidates standing on canteen tables for speeches.
Well ,it’s all a part of  "THE DU EXPERIENCE ".

The elections in Delhi University unlike any other elections are held every year to appoint the student union of a college. All those months of canvassing, running behind freshers who have no clue who you are, personally texting and calling them to vote for you, mid-lecture announcements , everything is done to get in power. The election culture of Delhi University might be exciting for some students and annoying for some. It gives a flavor of politics to the students at college level ,meeting new people and being a part of something bigger is exciting for the college students. They get to choose their president and the entire union. It’s a smaller democracy inside the bigger democratic nation.

Elections provide students a platform to drive change. By leading campaigns and organizing events , one can steer the direction of one’s society, sports club or wider university, and advance the causes that you and your peers believe in. If you don't like how something is working, you can change it by getting involved in the elections.

These elections are often questioned by some students regarding them being honest and fair. Rumors about the standing candidates come to the surface too. Moreover ,violence also becomes a part of such elections. The major problem faced is defacement of public property and littering. The printed leaflets scattered all around the college campus just for publicity adds to littering as well as wastage of paper. By the time voting dates come , not a single inch of floor is visible due to printed materials. Canvassing can be done without harming the environment and without just creating more work for the people who have to clean after it.

Elections are a great way to create a platform between the students and authorities. They appoint a union which becomes the pathway for change for students. But the over the top canvassing , violence , use of money and muscle power just adds to the negatives of such elections.

So from your side bring a change by getting to know what party works for your interest and in the end “ vote for the deserving candidate.”

Article by Bhoomi Chandwani.