Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Independent Shokeen Wins DUSU Vice-President Post Amid Vote Discrepancy
Deepanshu Shokeen ran for a leadership position at Delhi University.
He ran as an Independent, which means he was not officially backed by a major student organisation.
He defeated candidates from ABVP and NSUI for the vice-president position.
Reports say he became the first Independent candidate to win that post.
Shokeen had earlier asked NSUI for its ticket, but he continued after not receiving it.
He said students from different groups, including students not involved in politics, supported him.
He studied at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College and is now a Buddhist Studies student.
His father is a bus conductor and his mother is an Anganwadi worker.
Reports differ on his final vote total, with figures of 30,615 and 19,973 published.
Independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen won the Delhi University Students’ Union vice-president election against ABVP’s Ishu Maurya and NSUI’s Vir Chatrath.
Reports describe Shokeen as the first Independent candidate to hold the DUSU vice-president post.
Published reports give conflicting vote totals, including 30,615 for Shokeen in one account and 19,973 in later counting updates.
Shokeen had sought an NSUI ticket but contested independently after being asked to withdraw his organisation-backed nomination.
A Buddhist Studies student from Peeragarhi, Shokeen is the son of a bus conductor and an Anganwadi worker.
- Who
- Deepanshu Shokeen, an Independent Delhi University student, defeated ABVP’s Ishu Maurya and NSUI’s Vir Chatrath.
- What
- He won the DUSU vice-president election and was reported to be the first Independent candidate to hold the post.
- When
- Voting took place on September 18, 2026, and counting began on September 19, 2026.
- Where
- The election was held at the University of Delhi in New Delhi.
- Why
- Shokeen contested independently after seeking and not receiving the NSUI ticket; he said students across colleges supported his campaign.
Independent Campaign
Organisation-Backed Campaigns
Candidate selection
Independent Campaign
Shokeen continued in the contest independently after seeking an NSUI ticket and being asked to withdraw his organisation-backed nomination.
Organisation-Backed Campaigns
ABVP and NSUI fielded candidates backed by established student organisations.
Support base
Independent Campaign
Shokeen said his support came from students across colleges, including politically active students and neutral students not involved in campus politics.
Organisation-Backed Campaigns
Maurya and Chatrath represented major student organisations in a contest traditionally described as dominated by ABVP and NSUI.
- Winner
- Deepanshu Shokeen, Independent candidate
- Position
- Delhi University Students’ Union vice president
- Main rivals
- Ishu Maurya of ABVP and Vir Chatrath of NSUI
- Reported vote figures
- One report cited 30,615 votes for Shokeen, while another later update cited 19,973; the supplied reports conflict.
- Election participation
- More than 1.51 lakh students were eligible to vote, with turnout reported at 40.46%.
- Education
- Shokeen studies Buddhist Studies at the University of Delhi and graduated from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College.
- Family background
- His father is a bus conductor and his mother is an Anganwadi worker.
- Campaign issues
- Reports linked his campaign to student safety, accommodation and campus infrastructure.
