Rivals in Delhi University Student's Union polls launch virtual smear campaigns

With the poll observers keeping a close tab on posters, the Delhi University Student's Union polls have found a new battleground - the virtual world.



The campaigns that used to be pasted on the walls earlier are now being carried out on blogs and social networking sites. Taking the lead is the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

A letter to the Chief Election Officer has been posted on the blog detailing the criminal record of Harish Chaudhary, NSUI president candidate for the September 3 polls. The letter further mentions the name of the FIR number and the police station where the case has been registered.

Demanding cancellation of his nomination, Jitendra Chaudhary, the ABVP said, "There is no way to prove that we had fudged with the FIR copy as it was registered way back on September 15 last year. The FIR No. 379 was recorded at Mansarovar Park police station."

However, rejecting the allegations, NSUI state secretary, Shahnawaz Choudhary said, "Harish was never charge sheeted in any case. There are hundreds of cases registered every year. This doesn't mean that all of them are culprits."

Further after last year's rejection of various candidatures for DUSU polls for not following the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, student bodies this year are playing safe. Instead of printed banners and posters, they are heavily trying to reach out to young voters through social networking sites, blogging and SMSes.

The ABVP has already instituted an IT cell consisting of 6-10 members, enthusiastically working to promote their agendas. Archrival NSUI and other parties are making efforts to woo their vote bank through posts on social networking sites.

Aditya Jha, media incharge, ABVP, said, "Taking a lesson from last year, our motto this year is to make the highest impact at the lowest cost. Students are being encouraged to come up with their feedbacks and demands. SMSes are being sent to students explaining the importance of voting. We have targets to reach one lakh students by September 2. Till now we have sent them to over 50,000 students."

"Social networking websites such as Orkut, Facebook, Twitter and blogging are also being prominently used. Messages about DUSU are posted on these sites. We have students sitting in chat room chatting to students to know their actual demands. We have created profile of every candidate. We will be launching our manifesto today. However to cut the cost, only one copy of the manifesto will be launched this year," added Jha.

Both the dominant student bodies are also in the process of forming their college units to help them reach to maximum number of students. "The recent strike by DUTA over the semester system has also hampered the campaigning process. So we are heavily depending on the latest technology. Social networking websites, blogs and SMSes are more widely being used," said Choudhary.

All the candidates have also been allotted 10 minutes of time on the local DU community radio channel for promoting their agendas.
Polling for the DUSU elections will be held on September 3 between 8.30 am and 12.30 pm for day classes, and 3 to 7 pm for evening classes.