Citing problems with defacement cleanup, DUSU election results delayed once again. The eagerly anticipated vote count will now start on November 25, one day ahead of the Delhi High Court’s deadline. Students and candidates are upset about this move because the results were supposed to be released on September 28. However, a slew of setbacks has delayed the procedure by almost three months, which raises questions about deadline compliance and administrative effectiveness.
The postponement is primarily attributed to the university’s ongoing struggle with election-related defacement across its campuses. Campaigning for DUSU elections often involves posters, banners, and graffiti plastered indiscriminately on walls, pillars, and public spaces, leaving campuses in a state of disarray.
Following the election, the Delhi High Court directed DU to ensure that all defacement is addressed and a clean-up status report is submitted before the vote count begins. However, progress has been slow and DUSU election results delayed. According to an inspection committee, approximately 190 locations across DU’s campuses were identified for clean-up, but the efforts have been deemed unsatisfactory thus far.
“Our teams are still working on the cleanup efforts. While the campuses have largely been cleaned, defacement in other parts remains. We are working rigorously to complete the process as soon as possible,” a DU official told PTI.
The university’s inability to resolve this issue promptly has not only delayed the election results but also highlighted the challenges of managing a student election process in one of India’s largest and most prestigious universities. To address the delays, DU has released a revised schedule for vote counting. College-level vote counting will now take place on November 24, with morning colleges beginning at 8 am and evening colleges at 2 pm.
The central panel vote counting will follow on November 25 at the Conference Centre near the Botany Department on DU’s North Campus. The university has assured students that these dates will be adhered to, barring any unforeseen circumstances. This is a critical step toward meeting the Delhi High Court’s November 26 deadline, which leaves little room for further delays.
This is not the first time the DUSU election results delayed. Earlier, the vote count was scheduled for November 21 but was postponed again due to unresolved defacement concerns. These repeated reschedulings have drawn criticism from students, candidates, and student organisations, who are growing increasingly impatient.
The delay has been particularly frustrating for candidates contesting the elections, as it prolongs the uncertainty surrounding the results. Many students have also expressed disappointment over the administrative inefficiency displayed in handling the defacement issue and adhering to the election schedule.
“The delay has been incredibly frustrating. This is supposed to be an institution that sets an example for its students, yet it has failed to organise a simple election process efficiently,” said a student from North Campus. Student organisations, too, have voiced their dissatisfaction. They argue that while addressing defacement is essential, the university should have taken proactive measures to ensure a smoother process without disrupting the election timeline.
As the DUSU election results inch closer to announcement, the focus remains on resolving the final hurdles and delivering a smooth vote-counting process. While the delays have tested the patience of students and candidates alike, the hope is that the results, once declared, will pave the way for meaningful student representation and a better campus environment. Delhi University now faces the challenge of restoring trust in its administrative processes and ensuring that the lessons learnt from this election cycle lead to improved practices in the future.
