Student outfits clamour to pocket support

New Delhi: A slew of luxury SUVs were seen criss-crossing bylanes in the North Campus area on Thursday as student outfits operating in Delhi University were out on the streets, in lanes and lawns of the colleges to woo the freshers to their respective groups.

The 1922 established university has seen many politicians make their mark. The student outfits form the bedrock for cadres of all major political parties of the country who draw these students for protests and campaigns in large numbers.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), affiliated to BJP’s ideological parent RSS, the National Student Union of India (NSUI) that is the Congress-backed front; Student Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students' Association (AISA), which are backed by Left parties, are the major student unions in the university.

These student groups stepped out on a rainy Thursday morning to greet the freshers, put up help desks to address their queries, distribute leaflets and bookmarks and informed students about the rules of the varsity as well as what they should do in an emergency.

Though the student groups denied that their outreach was aimed at boosting their profile ahead of the DUSU elections, many prospective candidates of NSUI and ABVP made a show of strength by putting up their names in large posters and flyers on the campus. This was accompanied by the luxury SUVs, numbering in the dozens, which took turns to visit different colleges. These cars had the names of prospective student outfit functionaries, sometimes their pictures painted or plastered upon them.

Some freshers gathered around help desks while the student outfits clarified their queries. Many parents were seen approaching the student outfit functionaries.

Delhi university freshers courted by student unions in style

In Delhi University, student groups such as ABVP, NSUI, SFI, and AISA were seen engaging freshers on the north campus with stalls, leaflets, and guidance. Despite claims that activities weren't election-driven, posters and luxury SUVs highlighted prospective candidates, indicating preparations for the upcoming DUSU elections.

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