Ahead of DUSU & PU polls, NSUI initiates appointment of next national president

CHANDIGARH: Ahead of Delhi University student elections on September 18 and in Panjab University on September 3, and at a time when its own members have been accused of acting against the organisation’s interest in Chandigarh, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has launched the process to appoint a new national president.

An office note issued today by AICC in-charge for NSUI Kanhaiya Kumar said that national office bearers, state presidents, national coordinators and student leaders engaged in constitutional movements are eligible to apply. The note said that interview dates and other details will be announced shortly. Applications are to be submitted in person to Dr Anshul Trivedi, AICC national coordinator, at the party’s central office in New Delhi.

Confirming the development, Trivedi said, “A national team is being reconstituted and the appointment of the new NSUI president should be complete in the next few weeks.”

Asked about the timing of the change, Trivedi said there was nothing unusual about the decision. He added that the move was part of an overall strengthening of NSUI at the national level. “For us, the organisation must always come before individuals. We are reconstituting to make NSUI stronger across the country. At a time when we have an undemocratic government at the helm, we will intensify our fight against vote chori and continue to expose electoral malpractice wherever it happens,” he said.

The leadership change comes as NSUI’s Chandigarh unit has been grappling with internal tensions. Last week, the organisation’s in-charge had sought clarification from the city Congress chief over two Youth Congress leaders after NSUI accused them of working against its official candidate in the Panjab University elections. Varun Chaudhary, the current president was appointed in January 2024.

The move comes at a sensitive moment for the Congress’s student body as it prepares for high-stakes contests in two of the country’s most visible university campuses while simultaneously leading a national campaign over alleged election irregularities.