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Congress-backed NSUI wins DUSU top posts, setback for BJP student wing

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Congress-backed NSUI wins DUSU top posts, setback for BJP student wing

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Congress says result for joint secretary election rigged, could move court against recount

Days after the BJP’s student wing – the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) – lost all key posts in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students’ union polls, it faced another defeat, on Wednesday, losing the top posts of President and Vice President to the Congress-backed National Students Union of India (NSUI) in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

For the NSUI, the victory comes as a major morale booster as the outfit had failed to win the president’s post since 2012 and had managed to win only one post – that of joint secretary – in the polls held in 2016. In the recent JNU students’ body polls too; the NSUI had faced a humiliating defeat with even votes polled under the None Of The Above (NOTA) being higher than its share.

The counting of votes that began on Wednesday – a day after the elections saw a 43 per cent voter turnout – saw its fair share of suspense as the ABVP had been leading on all posts till well past noon. However, around 1pm, the NSUI nominee took a decisive lead in the post for president while margins kept fluctuating for the vice-presidential candidates of the two key student outfits.

As the counting of votes neared its end, Congress leaders along with NSUI members began celebrating the result, claiming that they had bagged three posts – those of president, vice president and joint secretary. However, the ABVP sought a recounting of the votes and managed to win the joint secretary’s slot thereafter, prompting the NSUI to allege that the result had been manipulated and that they would move court to challenge the result for the joint secretary’s election[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The DUSU results, however, weren’t a comprehensive setback for the ABVP as the outfit’s candidates grabbed the posts of Secretary and Joint Secretary. Besides, the result for the post of vice president wasn’t a landslide for the NSUI either; its candidate winning just over 250 votes more than the ABVP rival.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1505306294758{padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #dbdbdb !important;border-radius: 5px !important;}”]The result:

NSUI’s candidate Rocky Tuseed bagged the President post with 16,299 votes against the ABVP nominee Rajat Choudhary who polled 14,709 votes.

The Vice president’s post also went to the NSUI with its candidate Kunal Sehrawat grabbing 16,431 votes against the ABVP’s Paarth who finished a close second with 16,256 votes.

ABVP’s Mahamedha was declared victorious in the election for the post of secretary while the outfit’s nominee, Uma Shankar bagged the position of joint secretary after a recount.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Interestingly, NSUI candidate Rocky Tuseed was allowed to contest for the DUSU president’s post only last week after the Delhi High Court set aside an order passed by the varsity’s chief election officer who had disqualified Tuseed from contesting the polls. The importance of the DUSU polls for the Congress can be gauged by the fact that the party had got senior leader and advocate P Chidambaram to represent Tuseed in the court case.

Started in 1954, the DUSU elections see students from 50 of 77 Delhi University colleges participate in the polling process to elect office bearers to the positions of president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary.

A total of 43 per cent (over 46000 students) voter turnout was recorded in the polls held on Tuesday, nearly a 10 per cent increase than the turnout in last year’s polls. According to the professors who kept the track of the elections, far flung colleges recorded a poor voting percentage, whereas the on-campus colleges had a healthy voter turnout. While Hindu College with 65 per cent recorded the highest turnout, Aryabhatta College was among the lowest with 14 per cent turnout. SB Babbar, DUSU Chief Election Officer had made a special appeal asking the students to vote in the elections.

Senior Congress leaders took to Twitter to hail the victory of NSUI candidate in the top posts as a sort of referendum by the youth against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government’s failure in creating jobs and better economic opportunities for the youth.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJlbiUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRSUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZOU1VJd2luc0RVJTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyMiUzRSUyM05TVUl3aW5zRFUlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTIwJTNDYnIlM0UlMjYlMjMzOSUzQllvdXRoJTIwZm9yJTIwQ2hhbmdlJTI2JTIzMzklM0IlMjBzd2VlcHMlMjBEZWxoaSUyMFVuaXZlcnNpdHkuJTNDYnIlM0VXYWtlJTIwdXAlMjBjYWxsJTIwZm9yJTIwUE0lMjBNb2RpLiUyMFlvdW5nJTIwZGVtYW5kJTIwZW1wbG95bWVudCUyQyUyMG9wcG9ydHVuaXRpZXMlMjAlMjZhbXAlM0IlMjBmcmVlZG9tLiUzQyUyRnAlM0UlMjZtZGFzaCUzQiUyMFJhbmRlZXAlMjBTJTIwU3VyamV3YWxhJTIwJTI4JTQwcnNzdXJqZXdhbGElMjklMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZyc3N1cmpld2FsYSUyRnN0YXR1cyUyRjkwNzkwNDM3ODQ1MDgwNDc0MSUyMiUzRVNlcHRlbWJlciUyMDEzJTJDJTIwMjAxNyUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZibG9ja3F1b3RlJTNFJTBBJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwYXN5bmMlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjIlMkYlMkZwbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRndpZGdldHMuanMlMjIlMjBjaGFyc2V0JTNEJTIydXRmLTglMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElMjAlMEElM0NibG9ja3F1b3RlJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJ0d2l0dGVyLXR3ZWV0JTIyJTIwZGF0YS1sYW5nJTNEJTIyZW4lMjIlM0UlM0NwJTIwbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTIwZGlyJTNEJTIybHRyJTIyJTNFQ29uZ3JhdHVsYXRpb25zJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGbnN1aSUyMiUzRSU0MG5zdWklM0MlMkZhJTNFJTIwb24lMjBhbiUyMG91dHN0YW5kaW5nJTIwcGVyZm9ybWFuY2UlMjBpbiUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZEVVNVZWxlY3Rpb24yMDE3JTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyMiUzRSUyM0RVU1VlbGVjdGlvbjIwMTclM0MlMkZhJTNFLiUyMEElMjB0cml1bXBoJTIwZm9yJTIwbGliZXJhbCUyMHZhbHVlcyUyMG9uJTIwY2FtcHVzLiUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZOU1VJd2luc0RVJTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyMiUzRSUyM05TVUl3aW5zRFUlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTIwUHJvdWQlMjBvZiUyMHlvdSUyMSUzQyUyRnAlM0UlMjZtZGFzaCUzQiUyMFNoYXNoaSUyMFRoYXJvb3IlMjAlMjglNDBTaGFzaGlUaGFyb29yJTI5JTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGU2hhc2hpVGhhcm9vciUyRnN0YXR1cyUyRjkwNzg5MzY4ODk5ODU2NzkzNyUyMiUzRVNlcHRlbWJlciUyMDEzJTJDJTIwMjAxNyUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZibG9ja3F1b3RlJTNFJTBBJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwYXN5bmMlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjIlMkYlMkZwbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRndpZGdldHMuanMlMjIlMjBjaGFyc2V0JTNEJTIydXRmLTglMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElMjAlMEElM0NibG9ja3F1b3RlJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJ0d2l0dGVyLXR3ZWV0JTIyJTIwZGF0YS1sYW5nJTNEJTIyZW4lMjIlM0UlM0NwJTIwbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTIwZGlyJTNEJTIybHRyJTIyJTNFQ29uZ3JhdHVsYXRpb25zJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGbnN1aSUyMiUzRSU0MG5zdWklM0MlMkZhJTNFJTIwZm9yJTIwd2lubmluZyUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZEVVNVZWxlY3Rpb24yMDE3JTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyMiUzRSUyM0RVU1VlbGVjdGlvbjIwMTclM0MlMkZhJTNFJTIwJTI2YW1wJTNCJTIwdGFraW5nJTIwYmFjayUyMGRlbW9jcmFjeSUyMHdoaWNoJTIwd2FzJTIwbG9uZyUyMHVuZGVyJTIwYXR0YWNrLiUyMCVGMCU5RiU5MSU4RiVGMCU5RiU4RiVCQyVGMCU5RiU5MSU4RiVGMCU5RiU4RiVCQyUzQyUyRnAlM0UlMjZtZGFzaCUzQiUyMEFzaGElMjBLdW1hcmklMjAlMjglNDBBc2hhS3VtYXJpSU5DJTI5JTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGQXNoYUt1bWFyaUlOQyUyRnN0YXR1cyUyRjkwNzkzMzk2MTQ3NjY0NDg2NCUyMiUzRVNlcHRlbWJlciUyMDEzJTJDJTIwMjAxNyUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZibG9ja3F1b3RlJTNFJTBBJTNDc2NyaXB0JTIwYXN5bmMlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjIlMkYlMkZwbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRndpZGdldHMuanMlMjIlMjBjaGFyc2V0JTNEJTIydXRmLTglMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEElMjAlMEElM0NibG9ja3F1b3RlJTIwY2xhc3MlM0QlMjJ0d2l0dGVyLXR3ZWV0JTIyJTIwZGF0YS1sYW5nJTNEJTIyZW4lMjIlM0UlM0NwJTIwbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTIwZGlyJTNEJTIybHRyJTIyJTNFQ29uZ3JhdHVsYXRpb25zJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGbnN1aSUyMiUzRSU0MG5zdWklM0MlMkZhJTNFJTIwb24lMjBhJTIwc3RlbGxhciUyMHBlcmZvcm1hbmNlJTIwJTI2YW1wJTNCJTIwUHJlcyUyMHdpbiUyMGluJTIwRFVTVSUyMSUyMFRoYW5rJTIwc3R1ZGVudHMlMjBvZiUyMERVJTIwZm9yJTIwcmVwb3NpbmclMjBmYWl0aCUyMGluJTIwQ29uZ3Jlc3MlMjBpZGVvbG9neSUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRmhhc2h0YWclMkZOU1VJV2luc0RVJTNGc3JjJTNEaGFzaCUyMiUzRSUyM05TVUlXaW5zRFUlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnQuY28lMkZhbVVGNm93dXR0JTIyJTNFaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0LmNvJTJGYW1VRjZvd3V0dCUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZwJTNFJTI2bWRhc2glM0IlMjBPZmZpY2UlMjBvZiUyMFJHJTIwJTI4JTQwT2ZmaWNlT2ZSRyUyOSUyMCUzQ2ElMjBocmVmJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ0d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRk9mZmljZU9mUkclMkZzdGF0dXMlMkY5MDc5MDUzNzMwNTQ0Mzk0MjQlMjIlM0VTZXB0ZW1iZXIlMjAxMyUyQyUyMDIwMTclM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGYmxvY2txdW90ZSUzRSUwQSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMGFzeW5jJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyJTJGJTJGcGxhdGZvcm0udHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZ3aWRnZXRzLmpzJTIyJTIwY2hhcnNldCUzRCUyMnV0Zi04JTIyJTNFJTNDJTJGc2NyaXB0JTNF[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

PM Modi urges people to read Tirukkural on Thiruvalluvar Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thiruvalluvar Day appealed to people to read the Tirukkural, calling it a reflection of the humane and harmonious ideals of Tamil philosopher-poet Thiruvalluvar.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged people across the country to read the Tirukkural, highlighting its enduring relevance and the intellectual legacy of Tamil philosopher-poet Thiruvalluvar.

Marking Thiruvalluvar Day, which coincides with the Pongal celebrations every year, the prime minister paid tribute to the revered scholar, describing him as a symbol of harmony, compassion and Tamil cultural excellence.

In a message shared on social media platform X, Modi said Thiruvalluvar’s works and ideals continue to inspire countless people even today. He noted that the philosopher envisioned a society rooted in compassion and balance.

The prime minister encouraged citizens to engage with the Tirukkural, a classical Tamil text that deals with various aspects of human life, ethics and governance, calling it a window into the profound intellect of Thiruvalluvar.

Thiruvalluvar Day is observed annually to honour the philosopher-poet, whose literary contributions remain central to Tamil culture and thought.

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India News

BJP, Thackerays or Pawars: Maharashtra civic body poll results awaited today

Counting of votes for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the key BMC and Pune civic bodies, begins today, with BJP, Thackerays and Pawars awaiting crucial results.

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The political balance in Maharashtra’s urban centres will become clearer today as votes are counted for elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state. The results are keenly awaited amid high-stakes contests involving the BJP, the Thackeray cousins and the reunited Pawar factions.

Polling was held for 2,869 seats across 893 wards, with 3.48 crore eligible voters deciding the fate of 15,931 candidates. Counting is scheduled to begin at 10 am.

Mumbai and Pune in sharp focus

All eyes are on Mumbai, where the contest for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has drawn statewide attention. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray joined hands after more than two decades in a bid to reclaim control of the country’s richest civic body.

The BMC, which has an annual budget of over Rs 74,400 crore, went to polls after a nine-year gap, following a four-year delay. A total of 1,700 candidates contested the 227 seats.

Exit polls suggest a strong performance by the BJP–Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) alliance in Mumbai. An aggregate of multiple surveys projects the ruling alliance ahead, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and allies trailing, while the Congress is expected to secure a limited number of seats. Exit polls have also indicated possible voting consolidation among Maratha and Muslim voters behind the Thackeray-led alliance, while women and young voters may tilt towards the BJP.

The last BMC election in 2017 saw the undivided Shiv Sena retain control of the civic body it had dominated for decades.

In Pune, the spotlight is on the unusual alliance between rival NCP factions led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar. Exit polls indicate the BJP could emerge as the largest party in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), with both NCP factions and the Shiv Sena also expected to secure a share of seats.

Statewide counting underway

Apart from Mumbai and Pune, counting will take place in several other key municipal corporations, including Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, Akola, Jalgaon, Malegaon, Latur, Dhule, Jalna, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Nanded-Waghala, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Panvel, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Ulhasnagar, Ahilyanagar and Ichalkaranji.

With major parties treating these civic polls as a referendum on their urban appeal ahead of future state and national elections, today’s results are expected to shape Maharashtra’s political narrative in the months to come.

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Supreme Court flags risk of lawlessness, pauses FIRs against ED officers in Bengal case

The Supreme Court paused FIRs against ED officers in the Bengal I-PAC raid case, warning that obstruction of central probes could lead to lawlessness and seeking responses from the Centre and state.

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered a sharp rebuke to the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, pausing FIRs lodged against officers of the Enforcement Directorate over searches linked to political consultancy I-PAC. The court said the case raises serious questions about interference in investigations and warned that failure to address them could lead to “lawlessness”.

A bench of Justice Prashant Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi sought replies from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Personnel and Training, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress government on the ED’s plea. The central agency has also sought the suspension of Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, and a probe by the CBI. The matter will be heard next on February 3.

The ruling follows a standoff between the ED and the Bengal government after the agency conducted searches at premises linked to I-PAC, which manages election campaigns for the Trinamool Congress, in connection with a corruption case.

Court questions obstruction of central probes

Recording its prima facie view, the Supreme Court said the petition raised a “serious issue” concerning investigations by central agencies and possible obstruction by state authorities.

“There are larger questions which emerge and if not answered shall lead to lawlessness. If central agencies are working bona fide to probe a serious offence, a question arises: Can they be obstructed by party activities?” the bench observed.

Earlier in the day, the court also expressed disturbance over scenes of chaos in the Calcutta High Court during a hearing related to the same dispute.

ED alleges interference, seeks action against top cops

The Enforcement Directorate accused the West Bengal administration of interfering with its searches and investigation. Appearing for the agency, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta alleged that evidence was removed from the residence of an I-PAC co-founder and argued that such actions could encourage state police officers to aid and abet obstruction. He sought suspension of senior police officials.

Describing the disruption in the Calcutta High Court on January 9, Mehta called it “mobocracy”, saying a group of lawyers unconnected to the case disrupted proceedings, forcing an adjournment. The bench asked whether the high court had been turned into a protest site, to which Mehta responded that messages had circulated calling lawyers to gather at a specific time.

Banerjee’s counsel defends move, cites election confidentiality

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mamata Banerjee, questioned the timing of the ED’s presence in Bengal ahead of Assembly elections. He said the last development in the coal scam case dated back to February 2024 and argued that I-PAC handled election-related work under a formal contract with the Trinamool Congress.

According to Sibal, election data stored at the premises was confidential and critical to campaign strategy. He said the party leadership had a right to protect such information.

Representing the Bengal government and the DGP, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi referred to the January 9 disruption but argued it could not justify parallel proceedings in different courts. The bench responded that emotions “cannot go out of hand repeatedly”.

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