DUSU polls: Students want Presidential debate; DU says 'violation'

New Delhi, Sep 7: Inspired by JNU, a group of DU students are planning to organise a Presidential debate in run up to the upcoming Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) polls, which the varsity authorities claim will be a "violation of norms."

The 'Presidential debate', a night-long event conducted in the style of the US Presidential debate, is the biggest highlight of the students elections at Jawaharlal Nehru University, but there is no such provision in the DUSU Constitution for the same. [Delhi University polls: From candidates to issues, know all about DUSU elections]

"We are organising a Presidential debate which will be the first for the DUSU polls. The event will be held at Akshara theatre on September 9. All the candidates from various parties will be making speeches about their agendas and there will be round of questions," Ishan Gambhir, a student from the organising team told PTI.

The group also manages a campus newspaper, known as DU Beat, which focuses on happenings at various South and North campus.

"The candidates go campaigning from college to college as per their own schedule. There is no formal interaction between them as well as the voters at a common platform where the students casting their votes can make a wise choice," Gambhir said.

However, the university authorities said that they have no information about any such event and the organisation of a debate of this kind will be "a violation of the DUSU norms."

"I haven't got any information about the event yet. It will be a violation of the university norms if they conduct the same. As per the rules, not more than four people can campaign at the same time in the university...if any such debate is conducted there will be a huge gathering. We can't permit that," Chief Election Commissioner for DUSU polls, DS Rawat said.

The elections are scheduled for September 11 and the counting of votes will take place the next day.

"The candidates will be required to stop the campaigning by 5 PM on September 9 and any notices will be served to those violating the poll norms during the process. "Over 60 FIRs have already been registered against those defacing walls despite the varsity norms permitting just handmade posters in an allocated area," Rawat said.

PTI