Poll fever getting hotter in DU colleges

New Delhi, Sep 4: It is again that time of the year when Delhi University is brimming with energy and enthusiasm.

With the DU Students' Union elections just a few days away, one can see the various outfits leaving no stone unturned to woo the students to vote for their candidates.

While freebies, including pizza treats and other gifts are allegedly being distributed in colleges to draw support, even politicians are visiting the campuses to attend different events ahead of the DUSU elections on Sept. 12.

For instance, the Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) has seen a number of politicians, including six from BJP alone, visiting their campus within a period of less than five days. VK Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Development of North-Eastern Region, visited SRCC on August 27 to speak on 'India's pursuit as an emerging superpower' while Subramanian Swamy, also of BJP, too, attended an event there where he delivered a talk on 'Changing the status quo for India's future'.

Among other leaders who have visited the campus in the last seven days is Shashi Tharoor of Congress.

"We wanted to organise a talk for the freshers. Initially, we were pitching for Smriti Irani. But because of her busy schedule, she was not available after which we decided to invite Singh," said Siddharth Yadav, an SRCC student.

At another event organised by the Hindi Literature Society in association with SRCC and Youth Magazine Upendra Khushwaha, Anurag Thakur and Manoj Tiwari gave away awards to students.

"Last year, not many BJP politicians came to the campus. But this year many have. This is something new," said a 2nd year B.Com student.

"Leaders and politicians keep visiting the campus. I don't feel there is anything fishy and that they are coming to pitch for their (parties') students' wings because the DUSU polls are approaching," he said.

The direct fight in these elections is likely to be between candidates backed by Congress's youth wing NSUI and BJP's ABVP.

PTI