Alka — an independent candidate for Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president post who for two days was the National Students’ Union of India’s (NSUI) choice when its own candidate’s nomination faced uncertainty — won over 4,000 votes on Wednesday.
Ms. Alka, a second-year geography (honours) student at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College (evening), won 4,640 votes, coming in fourth to the winning NSUI candidate, Rocky Tuseed.
HC direction
After Mr. Tuseed’s nomination was rejected on September 6, the Congress-linked NSUI supported Ms. Alka, who had filed her nomination as an independent candidate. But, after the High Court on September 8 allowed Mr. Tuseed’s nomination, the NSUI dropped its support for Ms. Alka.
“They ditched me at the last minute. I was made other offers by the NSUI and other parties, but I chose to remain independent. I wanted to show girls that we can also fight,” she said.
She added that she would not consider joining the NSUI in the future, but had not decided about other student organisations.
“I had to show that I have some self respect,” she said, adding that she would look for other ways to work for DU students.
A senior leader in the Delhi Congress said the “confusion” with the support given to Ms. Alka may have cost the NSUI some votes, as her ballot number had been advertised for two days.
Mr. Tuseed only campaigned for one day before the election on Tuesday.