Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Barefoot Independent Deepanshu Shokeen Wins DUSU Vice-President Election
Deepanshu Shokeen is a Delhi University student who won the student union’s vice-president election.
He ran as an Independent instead of representing a major student organisation.
He had previously worked with the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India, but he was not given its election ticket.
During his campaign, he walked barefoot across university campuses.
He said this was to draw attention to student housing problems and the Satya Niketan building collapse.
That collapse killed seven people, including five Delhi University students.
Shokeen received 30,615 votes, defeating his closest rival by 13,705 votes.
He says his main goals are better hostels, improved infrastructure and a stronger student voice.
Earlier counting reports listed him with 26,341 votes after 17 rounds, before the final result was reported.
Deepanshu Shokeen won the Delhi University Students’ Union vice-presidential election as an Independent with 30,615 votes.
His closest rival, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad candidate Ishu Maurya, lost by 13,705 votes.
Shokeen had sought a National Students’ Union of India ticket but contested independently after being denied one.
He campaigned barefoot to highlight student accommodation concerns after the Satya Niketan building collapse killed seven people, including five Delhi University students.
His priorities include hostels, infrastructure, National Education Policy implementation, fees, transparency and student rights.
- Who
- Deepanshu Shokeen, an Independent candidate and former National Students’ Union of India campaigner, won the vice-presidential post.
- What
- He was elected vice-president of the Delhi University Students’ Union with 30,615 votes.
- When
- He was elected on Saturday, September 19, according to the report.
- Where
- The election was held at Delhi University in New Delhi; Shokeen campaigned across its campuses.
- Why
- He said he entered student politics to raise student issues, particularly inadequate hostels, accommodation, infrastructure and student rights.
Shokeen’s Independent Campaign
Organisational Student Politics
Ticket and candidate selection
Shokeen’s Independent Campaign
Shokeen said he contested independently after being denied a National Students’ Union of India ticket and criticised shortcomings in the organisation’s candidate-selection process.
Organisational Student Politics
National Students’ Union of India officials said he was initially nominated but later asked to withdraw; an unnamed functionary described his independent campaign as a challenge to the organisation’s ticket-distribution process.
How student issues should be represented
Shokeen’s Independent Campaign
Shokeen argued that student politics should focus on student rights and voices, saying his campaign represented students’ concerns rather than an organisation.
Organisational Student Politics
The election was also contested through major student organisations, including the National Students’ Union of India and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, which mobilised organised campaigns.
Campaign approach
Shokeen’s Independent Campaign
Shokeen emphasised direct support from students and campaigned barefoot to draw attention to accommodation problems after the Satya Niketan tragedy.
Organisational Student Politics
The report noted that major student organisations used large campaign convoys and mobilisation, contrasting with Shokeen’s independent and student-focused campaign.
- Winner
- Deepanshu Shokeen, Independent
- Position
- Delhi University Students’ Union vice-president
- Final vote total
- 30,615 votes
- Winning margin
- 13,705 votes over Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad candidate Ishu Maurya
- Earlier count
- Shokeen had 26,341 votes after 17 counting rounds, while Ishu Maurya had 13,655 and National Students’ Union of India candidate Veer Chatrath had 3,698
- Education
- Shokeen completed a B.A. Programme at Shaheed Bhagat Singh College and is pursuing a Master’s in Buddhist Studies
- Main priorities
- Hostels, infrastructure, National Education Policy implementation, fees, transparency and student rights
