NSUI demands fresh DUSU elections after ABVP's Ankiv Baisoya resigns
What's the story
The Congress-affiliated National Students' Union of India (NSUI) yesterday demanded fresh Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, a day after the students' body President Ankiv Baisoya resigned amid allegations of submitting a fake-degree for admission to the Delhi University. The NSUI, in a joint press-conference with All India Students' Association (AISA), put forth its demand in a memorandum submitted to DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi.
Possible solutions
Either conduct elections or select our candidate as President: NSUI
The NSUI termed Ankiv Baisoya's resignation as a "face-saving" attempt by the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). "There are only two possibilities in front of Delhi University administration now, fresh elections are called or our candidate Sunny Chhillar, who was the runner-up for the President's post, is appointed in Baisoya's place," said NSUI national in-charge Ruchi Gupta.
Next date
Court hearing for Baisoya's fake degree scheduled on November 20
The Delhi High Court is hearing a case on a plea filed by Chhillar, who has sought that Baisoya's election be set aside after news reports said that the Thiruvalluvar University registrar had "unambiguously and unequivocally" declared Baisoya's degree from the varsity as "fake and forged". The court hearing is scheduled for November 20. Gupta said they have taken legal advice on the matter.
Legal action
Court can announce petitioner as the elected candidate: Gupta
Referring to Section 101 in The Representation of the People Act, 1951, Gupta said if the High Court is of the opinion that the petitioner could have received the majority of votes had the returned candidate not been elected by corrupt practices, it can declare the election null and void. She further said the court can announce the petitioner as the elected candidate.
Allegations
Gupta blames DU administration for Baisoya's win, calls it 'incompetent'
Gupta said, "Moreover, if Baisoya's papers had been duly checked by the administration, he would have been knocked out from the race when the ballot numbers were announced. The NSUI's Sunny Chhillar would have won easily. The DU administration was either incompetent or complicit and Baisoya managed to contest elections." The Lyngdoh Committee Guidelines are also applicable to the DUSU polls, she said.
DUSU Polls
DUSU polls were held on September-12, results declared next day
"In the event of the office of any major post of office bearer falling vacant within two months of elections, re-elections should be conducted; otherwise the vice-president may be promoted to the post of president," the NSUI national in-charge said quoting the guidelines. The DUSU polls, in which Baisoya got 20,467 votes, were held on September 12 and results were declared the next day.
Information
Will NSUI let ABVP's Shakti Singh become new DUSU President?
Since the two-month period after Baisoya's election has expired, there have been talks of ABVP's Shakti Singh, who is currently the DUSU vice-president, being promoted to president's post. Gupta said the Lyngdoh Committee Guidelines are advisory and the two-month period isn't binding on the varsity.
Demands
Two-months should be counted from when fake-degree was exposed: NSUI
"The rules governing elections are to be decided by the Chief Election Officer appointed by the VC every year. One of the key purposes of Lyngdoh Guidelines was to eliminate criminalization of student union elections," Gupta claimed. "If one were to concede the two-month guideline, legally the two months will be counted from when his fake degree was first brought to light," she added.
ABVP's statement
Resigned because I respect mandate of DU students: Ankiv Baisoya
The ABVP said Thursday that Baisoya has resigned from the post of DUSU President after it asked him to do so, and he had also been suspended from the students' outfit till an inquiry is completed. In a Facebook post, Baisoya said he was resigning from the post of DUSU President because he respects the mandate of Delhi University students, who voted for him.