ABVP presidential candidate faces marksheet row ahead of DUSU elections

Allegations over Yash Dabas' academic record surfaced online soon after the DUSU nomination list was released. The row has sharpened the contest as rival student groups gear up for the September 18 poll.

In Short

• The final provisional nomination list triggered an intense campaign build-up
• A purported marksheet circulated online, but its authenticity remained unverified
• ABVP called the posts a smear campaign targeting Dabas before polling

Allegations about the academic record of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) presidential candidate Yash Dabas surfaced on social media on Friday, hours after the final provisional nomination list for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections was released. A purported marksheet of Dabas was shared online along with posts asking students to ‘choose wisely’.

The authenticity of the document could not be independently verified by PTI. The allegations emerged as major student organisations formally entered the contest for the DUSU central panel ahead of polling on September 18, with results expected the next day.

ABVP DISMISSES ALLEGATIONS, CALLS IT SMEAR

An ABVP official dismissed the allegations as a ‘smear campaign’ aimed at hurting Dabas' standing before the elections. ‘Yash Dabas is a promising candidate and has emerged as a popular choice among students. Such allegations are being circulated only to malign him and bring down his popularity,’ the official said.

The official said the allegations were politically motivated and added that students would judge candidates on the basis of their work and commitment to the university. The ABVP has fielded Dabas for the president's post against the National Students' Union of India's Vijay Shankar Meena, while the Left alliance of the All India Students' Association and Students' Federation of India has nominated Ananya Raturi for president.

The NSUI has fielded Meena for president, Vir Chatrath for vice-president, Namrata Choudhary for secretary and Gopal Choudhary for joint secretary. The AISA-SFI alliance has nominated Raturi for president, Akshat Shikhar for vice-president, Stanzin Deskyong for secretary and B Parijaat for joint secretary. The final provisional nomination list was released earlier on Friday.

The DUSU election is set for a closely watched campaign, with student groups expected to focus on campus infrastructure, student welfare, representation and safety. The race has already seen controversy around Dabas' academic record even as all major organisations have announced their candidates for the September 18 polls.

(With inputs from PTI)

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