DUSU polls take to public wheels

The new election rules of the Delhi University banning use of vehicles during the campaign, calls not only for charisma from candidates, but also physical fitness. It was a refreshing change from the usual scenario — where one saw what were virtually cavalcades, with at least 50 cars following each candidate. Sometimes, there was the odd elephant.

On Thursday, the first day of campaigning, the candidates found themselves dependent on public transport in the North Campus.

The National Student Union of India (NSUI), Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Indian National Student Union (INSU) decided to foot it. When tired, the ABVP took a rickshaw (see photo) and the NSUI boarded a bus.

As for the Youth for Equality (YFE), the bicycles of all four candidates and their supporters had to be borrowed from the Vishwavidyalaya Metro station.

But the candidates managed to put up a brave show.

“Campaigning on foot may be tiring but I am not focusing on that. I am working hard,” said Sonia Sapra, the presidential candidate of NSUI.

Sasi Malviya, running for the president’s post for YFE, said: “We have proved that it is not difficult to campaign without cars. In two-and-a-half hours, we managed to cover the entire North Campus.”

But covering the South Campus may prove a tougher proposition. Shriniwas, the National Secretary of ABVP, said: “We will be using vehicles. There is no way we can cover 51 colleges otherwise.”