The first phase of the DUSU elections 2019 ended at 1 pm with a comparatively lower voter turnout, said students. Student activists from ABVP, AISA and NSUI reported that fewer students came out to vote for the morning session that commenced at 9.30am. Last year the final voter turnout was 44.6 per cent while the first session had seen a turnout of 43.8 per cent. This year, students claim it's hardly 40 per cent.
"I was outside the Law faculty and approximately 40 per cent students came out to vote there. This is lower than what we saw last year," said Monika Chaudhary, the National Media Convenor of the ABVP. AISA President Kawalpreet Kaur who was at the North Campus also observed lower voter turnout. "We do not have the stats yet but the number of students who came to vote was lower this year," she said. Akshay Lakra also confirmed that that the voter turnout was lower this year.
The first phase was not free of controversies though. The Congress affiliated NSUI has alleged that the EVMs used in the DUSU elections were faulty. Ruchi Gupta, NSUI national in-charge tweeted, "Again, in Aryabhatta College, EVM is malfunctioning as usual AGAINST NSUI. When the ballot is pressed for NSUI candidate, EVM does not light up to indicate registration of vote."
However, an election committee member said the votes were being cast but there was some problem with the light that glows. It was replaced, he said, adding that 152 votes had been cast. NSUI's secretary candidate Ashish Lamba was not allowed to enter Ramjas College after ABVP alleged he had brought some outsiders with him. Police said they have not received any complaint so far and the election has been peaceful. NSUI's Joint Secretarial candidate Abhishek Chaprana was also, allegedly, assaulted and wrongly accused of canvassing for votes by the police at the Dayal Singh College in South Delhi.
The second phase of polling, meant for students from evening classes has started from 3 pm and will end at 7.30 pm. The final results will be declared on September 13.
