DUSU Polls 2025: SFI-AISA Alliance Holds ‘Mahapanchayat’ in DU, Pitch Against FYUP, Hostel Shortage, Women’s Safety

Delhi University students election heat up as SFI, AISA Hhld Mahapanchayat ahead of September 18 DUSU Elections

With Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections scheduled for September 18, 2025, the campus politics has entered a heated phase. The University administration has already issued advisories to student organisations, but that hasn’t dampened the campaigning. On Tuesday, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students Association (AISA) jointly organised a “DU Mahapanchayat,” drawing hundreds of students to DU North Campus.

The gathering, described by organisers as a show of strength, revolved around key student issues such as the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), hostel crisis, women’s safety, fee hikes and the National Education Policy (NEP).

AISA’s Pitch: Rejection of FYUP and NEP

Anjali, AISA’s probable DUSU candidate, criticised the FYUP, arguing that the university lacks infrastructure to accommodate the fourth-year batch this year. “We reject FYUP, we reject NEP, we reject saffronisation of our educational institutions,” she declared, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

SFI’s Stand: ‘ABVP, NSUI Failed Students’

SFI’s probable candidate, Sohan Kumar Yadav, accused rival outfits ABVP and NSUI of neglecting student concerns. “It was a year full of social media gimmicks and infighting while students continued to suffer. This year, students will choose those who truly represent them — the SFI-AISA alliance,” he said.

Women’s Safety in Focus

Abhinandana Pratyashi, another SFI candidate, raised concerns over women’s safety, citing repeated incidents of harassment in women’s colleges. “We demand functioning Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) with elected student representatives and sensitisation programmes to ensure safety for women in and outside campuses,” she said.

Hostel Shortage: ‘Outstation Students Left in the Lurch’

Abhishek Kumar, AISA’s probable candidate, highlighted the acute shortage of hostels. “More than 50% of DU students are from outside Delhi, but affordable housing remains a dream. PGs are unaffordable, and university funds are spent on fests instead of hostels. This must change,” he said.

List of Demands

The alliance put forward a charter of demands, including:

Rollback of FYUP and internal assessment scheme

End to fee hikes

Affordable hostels for all students

Functioning ICCs in every college

Concessional metro passes

Scrapping of SEC-VAC courses

DU Administration’s Advisory

Ahead of the polls, the Delhi University has issued a strict code of conduct for student organisations and candidates to follow. The directives include: Ban on posters, banners, wall writings, rallies, and loudspeakers to prevent defacement. Appointment of college principals as “Anti-Defacement Heads” to monitor compliance. Establishment of “Walls of Democracy” for designated campaigning. Encouragement of digital campaigning via social media and emails instead of physical graffiti. A ₹1 lakh bond rule for candidates, to be invoked in case of violations. Deployment of AI-enabled CCTV cameras and police patrolling teams to maintain security during elections.

The varsity administration has appealed to student groups to campaign responsibly, avoid disruption of academic life, and maintain the democratic ethos of DU.

Campaign Heats Up Before Polls

The SFI-AISA alliance accused the RSS-ABVP-administration nexus of “privatisation and saffronisation of education.” With DUSU polls drawing near, this Mahapanchayat marks a major push by the Left outfits to consolidate student support. On the other hand, the university has reiterated its appeals for discipline, warning of strict action against any violations of the model code of conduct of students elections.