Congress rejects claims of Narendra Modi effect on DUSU poll outcome

“If they are saying that ABVP’s victory in DUSU this year is a sign of Modi impact and this in indicates that BJP will also win assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Delhi,then BJP should be ready to pack up from Gujarat and Punjab where Congress’ student wing NSUI won University and College elections recently,” party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed told reporters.

DUSU elections: Long lines at polling booths,results will be declared today

Ahmed,who is AICC in-charge for Delhi,said NSUI recently won in students’ union elections at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara after a gap of 10 years despite Modi’s posters used in the election campaign there.

“We had also won in Gujarat University and Punjab University elections. While Modi is Chief Minister in Gujarat,it’s a Akali-Dal BJP government in Punjab. If losing Delhi University Students Union means Congress will lose elections in Delhi,then BJP must be on losing trend in Gujarat and Punjab,” he argued.

Students begin campaigning over a month ahead of DUSU elections

Ahmed said that as far DUSU is concerned,Congress had won three posts and BJP one,which has reversed this year and may reverse again next year in favour of Congress. Aman Awana of ABVP,who was elected DUSU President,attributed the victory primarily due to Modi’s popularity among students and their anger against NSUI.

Karishma Thakur of National Students Union of India (NSUI),who was elected as Secretary,the lone winner from Congress student wing,said there was “no impact of Modi” on DUSU elections and that Congress will win Delhi assembly elections impressively as there is “no such thing as Modifactor”.

She was talking to reporters at the AICC after meeting Ahmed and other senior leaders. Ahmed also rejected the contention that the defeat of NSUI in DUSU elections indicates any lacuane in Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi’s inititaives to strengthen the party’s student wing.

“Rahulji has made a clear-cut and qualitative difference within the organization and asked students to take interest in politics while at the same time paying attention to their studies and career.

“It was only last year we had won maximum seats in DUSU. Besides,NSUI also won in Gujarat and Punjab. Ironically,ABVP lost to NSUI in Shri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi where Modi had not long back given a speech and held an interaction with students,” Ahmed said.

Replying to questions about Modi’s impact on DUSU polls,he said the polling for DUSU was finished even before Modi was declared as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate.

“By making such claims,BJP exposes its double face. When it had lost similar elections in Gujarat,BJP maintained that student bodies elections are different from assembly elections and general elections,” he said.