New Delhi: The Congress’s student wing has been rocked by internal strife since the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) in-charge, Kanhaiya Kumar, initiated the process earlier this month to appoint a new president, replacing incumbent Varun Choudhary.
Kumar launched the process to find a successor to Choudhary on 1 September, announcing in an internal note that, in addition to office-bearers of the outfit, “students leading movements to safeguard the Constitution are eligible to apply” for the presidential post.
The timing, just ahead of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) polls, scheduled for 18 September, caught many within the NSUI off guard and left Varun Choudhary, appointed only in January 2024, angry, sources told ThePrint.
“It is hereby notified that the process of appointing the next National President of the National Student Union of India has officially started. All National Office-bearers, state presidents, national coordinators and students leading movements to safeguard the Constitution are eligible to apply,” read the office note signed by Kanhaiya.
“The date of the interview and other details will be announced shortly. Those interested are requested to fill the form and submit it in person to Dr Anshul Trivedi (AICC, national coordinator) in the central office, New Delhi,” it added. Kanhaiya marked a copy of the note to the offices of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, as well as Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal.
Speaking to ThePrint Thursday, Varun Choudhary said that the party has, for now, halted the process initiated by Kanhaiya. “Our focus is entirely on the DUSU election, right now. And, as of now, I can tell you that all other processes have been put on hold,” he said, refusing to comment on his perceived rift with Kanhaiya.
The selection process designed by Kanhaiya, whose past association with the Communist Party of India (CPI) has, from the beginning, been a sore point for a section of NSUI, bears the approval of Rahul Gandhi and aligns with his central ideas, such as the caste census.
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Candidate screening
Heading the screening process for NSUI president, Kanhaiya wants hopefuls to answer, in writing, a set of questions: Have they spent any time in jail? What movements have they led? Should India’s reservation policy be modified after the next caste census?
For instance, as part of the screening process, which is underway, applicants are having to submit in writing their thoughts on whether the reservation policy should be “modified after the caste census?” And, “If so, how?”
Rahul advocates removing the 50 percent cap on reservations, as well as implementing it in the private education sector.
The Kanhaiya-designed application form also seeks to gather information on whether a candidate has any FIR pending against them, with details, or if they have spent time in jail, and if so, for how long. Besides these details, they need to answer what major movements they have participated in and include all relevant information.
The candidates are also expected to write about their “favourite freedom fighter, giving reasons for their choice,” as well as their favourite book and film. They also need to identify the “three major challenges before our country today,” and explain “what the Congress party stands for”.
Choudhary’s team
However, a sizable section of the NSUI is resisting the move, saying that the process should not have been initiated ahead of the DUSU polls.
“We won the post of the DUSU president in 2024 after seven years. Announcing that the incumbent NSUI president will be replaced, shortly ahead of polls to a prestigious students’ body, such as DUSU, should have been avoided. Questions are bound to arise as Varun was expected to serve two years in the post,” an NSUI office-bearer said.
The functionary pointed out that the NSUI faced a debacle in the Panjab University student body polls earlier this month due to factionalism, with the tussle between Varun and Kanhaiya leading candidates to contest as Independents, helping the ABVP win the post of president for the first time.
On 3 September, the Congress suspended its Chandigarh NSUI in-charge Dilip Choudhary.
Kanhaiya’s team
The NSUI members, aligned with Kanhaiya, on the other hand, claim that the Congress leadership has received several complaints against Varun Choudhary, prompting the earlier-than-expected search for a successor. The NSUI, they added, needed to undergo a “cultural shift” to be more in step with Rahul Gandhi’s ideas and vision, necessitating the move.
On Thursday, the NSUI announced its panel for the DUSU polls. It nominated Joslyn Nandita Choudhary for the post of president, Rahul Jhansla for the post of vice president, besides proposing Kabir for secretary, and Lavkush Bhadhana for joint secretary.
While declaring the candidates, an NSUI X post said: “A new journey begins, a new hope rises! NSUI stands united with a vibrant team ready to bring change, equality, and progress to Delhi University…. Together, we carry the dreams of thousands of students and the promise of a better tomorrow. #HumBadlengeDU.”
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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