Congress campaign panel has DUSU office-bearers

Delhi University Students’ Union hopefuls may not be exactly wasting their breath on a worthless cause – at least not those associated with the National Students’ Union of India, reports Anuradha Mukherjee.

Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) hopefuls may not be exactly wasting their breath on a worthless cause – at least not those associated with the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).

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Several recent Union office-bearers have been included in the Congress campaign committee for the coming Delhi assembly elections.

The last three Union presidents affiliated with the NSUI have all found berths in the committee, normally an honour associated with seniors.

Outgoing Union president Amrita Bahari is among the younger lot in the 77-member campaign committee headed by veterans like south Delhi MLA Subhash Chopra.

Former Union president Ragini Nayak feels younger politicians bring aboard a large chunk of young voters.

“We know the pulse of the youngsters. Also, a large number of Delhi University students will also vote in the upcoming polls. When they see a youngster campaigning, they relate to him,” said Nayak.

Ragini Nayak, who was Union president in 2005-06, and Amrita Dhawan (2006-07) are also members of the backroom team constituted to tackle the Delhi assembly polls.

“The Congress makes a conscious effort to infuse young blood in the party from time to time. And this is why these youngsters have been taken on board. In fact, two Union office-bearers were offered tickets for contesting the last MCD polls,” said a senior party leader.

Others associated with the Union to be included in the campaign panel includes, Rohit Chaudhary, Shalu Malik, Narendra Tokas and Neetu Verma. “These new entrants are first managing the Union polls, after which they are going to pitch in for the assembly polls,” said the leader.

Nayak also feels that the trend is due to the fact that NSUI has been sweeping the Union polls for the last five years. “This has never happened before. This is why you see people who have been Union office-holders in recent years get prominent responsibilities from the mother party,” explained Nayak.