Lovely may face heat for NSUI defeat in varsity polls

 Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely might face the heat of the party’s student wing National Student’s Union of India’s debacle in the Delhi University Students’ Union elections.

The Delhi University was once considered a stronghold of NSUI but after 18 years, it lost all the seats to Bharatiya Janata Party’s student wing Akhil Baharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

Lovely was the key person who orchestrated the campaign, selection of candidates and played a key role in the student elections. A section of party leaders feel his inexperience led to the debacle; moreover, he did not have any mass appeal that could have attracted crowd. “The party seriously needs crowd-pulling leaders. This is an alarming situation,” a senior party leader said.

Lovely is also in trouble as he failed to elect the party’s different committee members, which were dissolved following the party’s crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections.

Senior city Congress leaders, who were heads of different committees before the Assembly elections, are still confused about their role in the party’s new alignment.

“It’s been nine months since the committees were dissolved. The party leadership must hurry now,” the leader added.

The party had come up with a new plan to double the number of committee members at block and district levels. Two observers each were appointed to review the applications and make sure that only those who were working hard for the party would get an opportunity to hold a post.

“This was the plan of party vice president Rahul Gandhi to bring grassroot level worker in active politics and decision-making committee. The selection process is long but it will certainly help those who are committed to the party,” a senior Delhi Congress office bearer said.