Delhi University Students Union

Ever since its establishment in 1922, students of Delhi University were deeply involved in the Independence Movement against British Colonial rule.^[1] There had been a long–standing demand for establishing a student body in the university, finally, in 1947 under the chairmanship of V. K. R. V. Rao, then head of the DU economics department, a provisional committee that included presidents of all constituent college unions was authorised to draft the constitution of the Delhi University Students’ Union. Finally, DUSU was inaugurated by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on April 9, 1949.^[1]

Over the years, several DUSU members have gone on to have notable careers in Indian politics, including several Ministers: Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel, Vijay Jolly, Ajay Maken, Rekha Gupta and Alka Lamba.^[6][7][8] DUSU has a budget of approximately Twenty–Four lakhs INR.^[9] Every member of union pay Twenty INR as an annual subscription to union funds which is collected along with the fees collected at the time of admission by the respective college or institutions.

Elections to the union are held by direct voting by the students of the university faculties & teaching departments and member colleges. Member colleges and university faculties have their own college or faculty students' union. The DUSU is a university–level umbrella organisation for university faculties and member colleges' student unions. The DUSU has four office bearers: President, Vice President, Secretary and Joint–Secretary. DUSU also includes one or two Central Councillor(s) from each college affiliated with DUSU, who are directly elected by the college. The President of each college affiliated with DUSU is also a member of the central council of DUSU.^[10]

The elections are usually held in July–August of each year. As of 2019 there are total of 52 Delhi University colleges & faculties affiliated to DUSU.^[11][6]

Delhi University politics is called the “mini theatre of national politics”, and thus all major national parties invest heavily in the elections.^[8] Amongst all the Student elections in India, DUSU elections "gain most nationwide attention" besides Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union. With 1.45 lakhs+ students voting, DUSU elections are the biggest democratic election at an academic campus every year.^[12]