New Delhi: Posts by a senior official of Delhi University and a college principal endorsing or appearing alongside the ABVP panel of candidates in the DUSU elections have drawn objections on social media, with some students’ and teachers’ groups questioning the involvement of university authorities in promoting an outfit.A photo posted by DU joint dean of student welfare AK Singh on Facebook with the ABVP panel triggered allegations that he was promoting the group in his official capacity. Singh deleted the post Saturday and issued a clarification on the same platform saying the photograph was taken in the course of his election duty.Singh said Saturday was the last day for withdrawal of nominations and, during the process, he had asked candidates from both ABVP and NSUI to pose for group photographs to share information about the final panels with DU students.“I had requested NSUI’s current DUSU office-bearer Rahul Jhansla several times to come with the NSUI panel for a group photograph. Meanwhile, the ABVP panel had been finalised and I shared its information. However, as the announcement of NSUI candidates was delayed due to an internal dispute, I immediately deleted the ABVP panel post to avoid any allegation of favouritism or discrimination,” Singh clarified.He added that all students were equal, irrespective of their political affiliation or whether they were contesting independently, and that the university’s role was to ensure a “free, fair, impartial and peaceful” election and strict adherence to the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.DU chief election officer Raj Kishor Sharma said no official complaint had been received. “AK Singh is not a member of the election office. If he has posted anything, it is in his personal capacity, and he is free to do so,” Sharma said.A post by Aditi Mahavidyalaya principal Neelam Rathi as a WhatsApp story has also drawn objections. The post urged students to “Vote, Support, Elect ABVP” and listed its candidates. Rathi told TOI that the post was made “by mistake” and was taken down immediately. “In our college, we have not allowed an ABVP candidate to contest because he was not meeting the eligibility criteria. I am not partial to anyone,” she said. Sharma refused to comment on it.RSS-affiliated National Democratic Teachers’ Front member Sunil Sharma posted that Singh had shared election-related information “without making any appeal to anyone to vote”.However, Congress’ student outfit, NSUI, said the post “raises serious questions about the impartiality and neutrality of the university administration”. NSUI media coordinator Ravi Hanuman Pandey said, “We demand immediate removal and dismissal of the official for compromising the sanctity of free and fair student elections.” Congress-affiliated teachers’ group INTEC also demanded Singh’s removal.
