Akhil Bharatiya Vishwa Parishad (ABVP) candidate Ankiv Baisoya gets caught on the back foot early on into his interview with host Amit Bhardwaj; he says that his party are obligated by the Supreme Court’s order to provide security on campus for those belonging to the LGBT community—but presents no clear way forward or planning in terms of how the party plans to sensitive this issue on campus. “If the Supreme Court has said this is acceptable, then we cannot refute it and have to provide security to LGBT members.” 

He goes on to emphasise a guarantee on the construction of hostels—an issue on severe prominence in every DUSU election— and is even prepared personally to participate in hunger strikes to put forth the students wants. We even questioned him on the overwhelming majority of students, from the department of Buddhist studies, continually present in ABVP’s list of DUSU candidates each year.

He is then questioned about his party’s infamous coverage leading up to the 2018 DUSU elections; in reference to a popular video being circulated on social media, Ankiv is asked about the need to have a massive convoy of cars—plastered with posters bearing his name— moving around in New Delhi. In another social media picture, members of ABVP are seen posing with guns at the party’s head office.

Baisoya plays down both instances, claiming these are not representative of the party’s morals, and that his part did not need a show of strength due to their massive presence and following campus.