ASAP to Help Students Contest DU Student Union Elections, Apply by August 25 – Saurabh Bhardwaj

• Students who are eligible but unable to contest DUSU elections due to lack of funds will be supported by the AAP student wing, ASAP – Saurabh Bhardwaj
• Applicants must submit 50 proposers for DUSU and 10 for college elections, along with a one-minute video and a 500-word statement of purpose – Saurabh Bhardwaj
• ASAP aims to strengthen democracy at its roots through alternative politics, encouraging students to choose clean politics – Saurabh Bhardwaj
• This is an initiative where students’ talent will be measured not by expensive cars or money, but by their ability – Sanjeev Jha

New Delhi, Aug 2025 : The student wing of the Aam Aadmi Party, Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), has made a major announcement regarding student union elections in Delhi University and its affiliated colleges. On Friday, AAP’s Delhi State Convenor Saurabh Bhardwaj, accompanied by ASAP members, declared that ASAP will assist students in contesting the DU student union elections. Interested students can apply between August 15 and 25.

Bhardwaj stated that students from modest backgrounds, who despite their capabilities cannot contest DUSU elections due to financial constraints, will be given the opportunity to do so by ASAP. Contestants will need to provide 50 proposers for DUSU elections and 10 proposers for college-level elections. Additionally, candidates must submit a one-minute video and a 500-word statement outlining their purpose for contesting. ASAP’s mission is to strengthen democracy at its roots through alternative politics, enabling students to opt for clean and transparent politics.

Speaking at the party headquarters, Bhardwaj wished the nation on Independence Day, remembering martyrs like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sardar Patel, who fought for India’s freedom. He said their dream was for an independent country where people could choose their own governments, thus fostering a healthy democracy. However, in recent years, several flaws have crept into the system.

He drew an analogy from the “food chain” learned in childhood: grass is eaten by grasshoppers, grasshoppers by frogs, frogs by snakes, snakes by eagles, and eagles eventually decompose into the soil that grows more grass. If poison enters this cycle, the entire chain collapses. Similarly, in a democracy, the chain begins with student politics. The first direct exposure to democracy for a student comes during college and university elections.

Bhardwaj noted that Delhi University, one of the world’s most prestigious universities, sets the political tone for the entire country. Unfortunately, DU’s student politics today is dominated by money and muscle power. Ordinary students from simple backgrounds can’t even imagine contesting these elections. To run for DUSU, candidates often flaunt luxury cars worth crores, hire 20-30 vehicles for rallies, book entire cinema halls for fellow students, and throw lavish parties. In return, students vote for them the next day.

This, Bhardwaj argued, is where the poison enters the roots of democracy—teaching young people to trade votes for perks like free movies or parties. The same individuals later sell their votes in general elections for gifts, cash, or commodities. ASAP seeks to reverse this culture by initiating clean, transparent student politics, starting this Independence Day.

ASAP is inviting applications from DU and affiliated college students who wish to contest but lack funds. Candidates must:

1. For College Elections: Provide 10 supporting proposers from their college.
2. For DUSU Elections: Provide 50 supporting proposers from at least five different colleges.
3. Submit a one-minute video appealing for votes.
4. Write 200–500 words explaining why they can win and how they will serve.

If ASAP finds a candidate suitable, it will fully support them in contesting. The idea is to select candidates purely on merit, not money.

Bhardwaj emphasized that students’ persuasiveness in their video will reflect their ability to connect with voters. This transparent selection process aims to protect student idealism from being corrupted by showy and transactional politics.

Accompanying him, AAP MLA from Burari, Sanjeev Jha, praised the initiative as one that will measure talent by ability rather than wealth or material possessions. He said politics can only be cleaned up by starting at the college level, and ASAP is taking that responsibility seriously.

Jha expressed hope that students who want to change politics will participate and help build an alternative political culture. He also mentioned plans to connect colleges that do not hold elections with ASAP’s mission, and to expand this model beyond Delhi to other universities across the country—making it a nationwide movement for clean politics.