Archive · 18 Sep 2026
DUSU Polls Report Nearly 40% Turnout, ABVP, NSUI Contest
Delhi University students voted to choose their student-union leaders.
The main groups competing were ABVP, NSUI and an AISA-SFI alliance.
They were contesting four important posts, including president and secretary.
News reports gave different turnout figures: 36 percent in one report and 39.77 percent by 8 p.m.
in another.
The university had not yet released the final turnout number.
Students said housing, food, travel and college facilities were important issues.
Police used barricades and frisking, with more than 2,000 personnel deployed.
The Delhi High Court also banned victory processions, and votes were scheduled to be counted on Saturday.
Reported turnout was 36 percent in one account and 39.77 percent by 8 p.m.; final figures remained pending.
ABVP, NSUI and the AISA-SFI alliance contested DUSU’s four central posts.
Voting ran from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at morning colleges and until 7:30 p.m. at evening colleges.
Students highlighted accommodation costs, non-functional hostels, transport expenses, metro concessions and administrative access.
The Delhi High Court banned victory processions, while counting was scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday.
- Who
- Delhi University students voted, while ABVP, NSUI and the AISA-SFI alliance contested the four central posts.
- What
- The DUSU election recorded reported turnout figures of 36 percent and 39.77 percent by 8 p.m., with final data pending.
- When
- Voting took place on Friday, September 18, with counting scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday.
- Where
- Polling took place at Delhi University colleges across the North and South campuses.
- Why
- Students were choosing representatives amid concerns about accommodation, costs, campus facilities, transportation and university administration.
ABVP’s position
NSUI’s position
Election-related allegations
ABVP’s position
ABVP alleged that an NSUI worker distributed an incorrect ABVP panel number shortly before voting.
NSUI’s position
NSUI president Vinod Jakhar alleged that a former national secretary of the organisation was detained by police without reason.
Election outcome
ABVP’s position
ABVP pointed to clean sweeps in several college union polls, including Shri Ram College of Commerce, and expressed confidence in winning all four DUSU posts.
NSUI’s position
NSUI remained part of the closely watched contest for the four central posts, but the reports did not provide a comparable prediction from the organisation.
Campaign rules
ABVP’s position
ABVP’s reported college-election successes and campaign activity formed part of the broader contest, which was subject to election rules.
NSUI’s position
The Delhi High Court cited frequent and blatant violations of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, including pamphlet distribution and vehicle rallies, and banned victory processions.
- Turnout
- Reported as 36 percent in one account and 39.77 percent by 8 p.m. in another; final data was pending.
- Contesting groups
- Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), and the AISA-SFI alliance.
- Central posts
- President, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary.
- Voting hours
- 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for morning colleges and until 7:30 p.m. for evening colleges.
- Security
- More than 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the North and South campuses.
- Voting equipment
- 1,000 electronic voting machines were deployed: 960 for polling and 40 in reserve.
- Counting
- Counting was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Saturday at the University Sports Stadium’s Multipurpose Hall.
