Swati, a day scholar, is just the third woman candidate to make it to the post. She beat her closest opponent Kunal Singh by 92 votes.

Hindu College will have a woman in the post after a gap of 12 years.

A student of Political Science, third year, Swati said she won because she was hugely popular among students. Refusing to get drawn into a debate over the battle of the sexes she said, “It does not matter if a candidate is a girl or a boy as long as he or she is good. Earlier, men would win because our college has a boy’s hostel and most students rallied behind them.”

Only in Hindu College is the head of the students’ body called the Prime Minister. Soon Swati will appoint a 10-member Cabinet with each minister working in consultation with a secretary. The college has ministries ranging from sports and culture to environment.

“Ever since the students union came into being at Hindu College, we have been following the Parliamentary system. So we have the Prime Minister looking after the overall welfare of students,” says D N Gupta, acting principal of the college.

“I’m really happy to see a woman candidate has made it to the post. Swati has been our strongest woman candidate so far,” he said.

Swati, a resident of Rohini, says as a member of the Hindu College music society, she felt she could do a lot for her college-mates. “I felt if I could successfully run a society, I could do the same for the college.”

About her future plans, Swati said, “My first job will be to ensure clean drinking water in the college.”

Incidentally, Hindu College has witnessed one of the best voter turnouts in the University with 47 per cent students voting.