NEW DELHI: CYSS will not contest DUSU elections this year, as it will focus on highlighting Kejriwal government’s achievements for next year’s Delhi Assembly polls.
Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), the youth wing of the Aam Aadmi Party, has decided not to participate in the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.
“The organisation will not contest DUSU elections this year and will instead focus on the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for next year,” said CYSS state president Kamal Tiwari.
The CYSS state president explained the decision of the organisation to focus on amplifying the achievements of the Kejriwal government in Delhi rather than contesting the DUSU elections. He explained that CYSS aims to raise awareness among the residents of Delhi about the positive initiatives taken by the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government, which includes developments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
Reflecting on the organisation’s previous decisions, Tiwari pointed out that CYSS had also opted not to contest the 2023 DUSU elections after failing to secure an alliance with the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). This decision, according to him, was strategic, as the party felt that without a solid alliance, their impact in the elections would be diminished.
Tiwari further clarified that this year, CYSS will not extend its support to any other student organisation in the DUSU elections. He criticised other student bodies, such as NSUI and ABVP, for failing to effectively voice student concerns to the relevant authorities. Tiwari suggested that these organisations have not adequately represented the issues faced by students and, therefore, CYSS sees no value in aligning with them or endorsing their candidates. Instead, CYSS plans to continue advocating for student issues through other channels and focussing on its political priorities ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
AAP’s student wing, CYSS, has only contested the DUSU elections twice since its inception.
It made its debut in 2015, positioning itself as a third alternative to NSUI and ABVP, with banners of Arvind Kejriwal prominently displayed across the North Campus. Despite AAP’s sweeping victory in the Delhi Assembly elections that year, CYSS managed to secure only 17% of the total votes. The organisation did not participate in the 2016, 2017, or 2019 DUSU elections. In 2018, CYSS teamed up with the Left-affiliated All India Students’ Association (AISA) to form an alliance aimed at creating a triangular contest, but the coalition failed to win any seats.
A CYSS insider revealed, “We are not consistent in contesting elections, which hinders our ability to recruit new students. Additionally, decisions about the union are mostly made by the party leadership, often overlooking CYSS’s recommendations. This makes it difficult to find popular candidates for key positions.”
The source added that the party tends to project Arvind Kejriwal, even in student elections, rather than focussing on the candidates themselves, which contributes to CYSS’s underperformance.
The main reasons for CYSS’s lack of success in DUSU elections are the absence of a strong organisational structure and frequent interference from the party’s high command.
Amit, a student from Hindu College, said, “CYSS lacks consistency in contesting elections and doesn’t have a prominent leader, which is why most students don’t vote for them. They also have a limited presence on campus compared to ABVP and NSUI. In fact, AISA has a stronger presence and regularly contests elections. CYSS’s future looks bleak, and it’s crucial for them to participate in elections to stay relevant. If they continue to avoid elections, students will inevitably turn to other alternatives.”
The elections for DUSU office bearers will be held on September 27, with the votes being counted the following day. DUSU is the primary representative body for students across most colleges and faculties at Delhi University, while individual colleges also hold their own student union elections.