BJP-supported group emerges victorious in Delhi University teachers’ elections.

BJP-backed NDTF candidate AK Bhagi elected as Delhi University Teacher’s Association president

BJP-backed National Democratic Teacher’s Front (NDTF) candidate AK Bhagi was elected as Delhi University Teacher’s Association president on Thursday. Bhagi, a professor at the Dyal Singh College for over two decades, won by a margin of 395 votes. Nearly 85.5% of 9,500 voters participated in the election on Wednesday.

Straight fight between NDTF and D.U.T.A

The poll witnessed a straight fight between two candidates — Bhagi from NDTF and Aditya Narayan Misra, representing the Democratic United Teacher’s Alliance (D.U.T.A), a collection of about nine teacher’s organisations, who have joined forces this year to take down the NDTF. As many as 4,182 votes were polled against Bhagi and 3,787 votes against Misra.

Agenda for the new president

Speaking to The Indian Express, Professor Bhagi had earlier said, “Regularisation of ad-hoc teachers, promotion of teachers, regular grants to the 12 Delhi government-funded colleges is our aim.” As per a statement released by the NDTF, Bhagi emphasised that DUTA will pressurize the Delhi government to timely release grants and salaries to these colleges, otherwise DUTA will approach the Education Ministry and the UGC to request them to take these colleges under their direct control.

DUTA’s agenda

On the other hand, Misra, who is a three-time DUTA president, his party’s agenda this year was regularisation of ad-hoc teachers this academic session. “The Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) was held in the middle of a significant number of displacements like serving ad-hoc teachers, massive corruption and brazen political cronyism influencing many interviews for permanent teaching posts,” said elected Academic Council Member, Assistant Professor Maya John, who was part of the D.U.T.A alliance.

Reaction from elected members

John further stated, “They mobilized vulnerable (ad-hoc) teachers for large meetings which, in turn, created the image that there is landslide support and assured victory for the incumbent DUTA leadership. Nearly half of the teachers who cast their vote on 27th September were not in favour of the incumbent leadership, they voted for change. We will continue the legitimate struggle to remain a pressure group and responsible opposition in the DUTA.” Meanwhile, Nandita Narain, president of the Democratic Teacher’s Front said, “Three DTF candidates — Abha Dev Habib, Rudrashish Chakravarty and Sanjeev Kaushal — won the executive member positions, Manoj Kumar lost by a small margin. Three candidates of AADTA, Anand Prakash, Bimlendu and Deo Nandan also won, along with N Sachin.”

Future plans

“The fight against NEP, privatization and displacement, old pension scheme and counting of past service will continue,” Narain added.