NEW DELHI, December 20: Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has been invited by the Indian National Teachers Congress (INTEC) for tea at the Shankarlal Hall of Delhi University on Monday. A section of the teachers believe her visit will influence the outcome of elections to the executive council and academic council of DU scheduled to be held on December 22. Her acceptance has raised hopes for INTEC which is losing popularity in the university.With the Congress in power, the coming elections are a litmus test for INTEC. The Left-inclined Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) appears to be on strong ground this time round. It faces stiff competition from the National Democratic Teachers Front (NDTF). Both are cadre-based organisations and have hitherto dominated Delhi University politcs.
The previous elections to the executive committee had witnessed a tough fight between the DTF and INTEC candidates. However, all Congress-led organisations including Academics for Action and Development (AAD), INTEC and Progressive Teachers Organisation (PTO) had fielded a common candidate. This time, AAD had fielded a separate candidate.
Congress general secretary Oscar Fernandes had called a meeting of various Congress-led organisations and requested them to contest from a common platform but the endeavour had failed to yeild the desired results. Had the Congress-led factions worked out their differences, INTEC would have benefitted.
Printer-friendly page