DUSU counting: ABVP dominance under duress, show initial trends

Initial trends from Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election counting show a neck-and-neck contest between the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for the post of President, after 10 rounds of counting. Ten rounds remain.

An independent candidate is leading the race for vice-president, while the ABVP candidate is ahead in the race for the post of secretary. A candidate from the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha (SCS) is leading for the post of joint secretary.

Last year, ABVP won three of the four central panel posts, while NSUI won one. The Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha had last won a central panel post in 2009.

This year, elections are being held against the backdrop of students’ protest at Jantar Mantar, which led to a resignation by Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union Education Minister, and the Satya Niketan tragedy, which raised questions over the shortage of hostels and accommodation on the university campus.

At the end of the 10th round, NSUI’s Vijay Shankar Meena was ahead of ABVP’s Yash Dabbas by 227 votes in the presidential race.

Independent candidate Deepanshu had a substantial lead in the vice-presidential race with 15,591 votes, while the ABVP candidate had 7,838 votes.

For secretary, ABVP’s Riya Chhawdi was leading with 9,953 votes, more than 2,000 votes ahead of the NSUI candidate.

Polling for the elections was held on Friday (September 18, 2026) across several colleges.

A total of 1,000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) were deployed for the elections, of which 960 were used for polling, officials said.

After polling concluded on Friday (September 18, 2026) evening, the EVMs were securely transported by police to the Multipurpose Hall, where they were opened and counted.

More than 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across Delhi University, with restrictions imposed on key roads and heightened security around the counting centre.

Student welfare, campus facilities, hostel accommodation and safety emerged as major campaign issues this year, particularly after the collapse of a five-storey PG building in Satya Niketan earlier this month, in which seven people, including students, were killed.

Delhi also saw a student agitation, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), in June-July over the issues of NEET paper leak and examination reforms.

Police personnel have been deployed at strategic points, while foot patrols, motorcycle teams and PCR vans are maintaining a visible presence across the campuses. Paramilitary personnel have also been deployed at key locations as part of the multi-layered security arrangements, an officer said.

The traffic curbs, announced in a university advisory, remained in force on Saturday (September 19, 2026) until the declaration of results.

Police are coordinating with university authorities and college administrations on entry and exit points, student movement and other logistical arrangements for the counting process, officials said.

(with PTI inputs)