Archive · 19 Sep 2026
DUSU Polls Bring Social Media, Satya Niketan Tragedy Into Focus
Delhi University students voted to choose their student leaders.
Many students noticed candidates through Instagram videos and other social media posts.
Some candidates also offered movie tickets, dinners or gift hampers during campaigning.
The Satya Niketan building collapse was another major topic because seven people died, including five Delhi University students.
Some students wanted parties to keep discussing the tragedy.
Other students felt that parties had discussed similar issues before without producing results.
Students also talked about women’s representation and problems with campus infrastructure.
Security was increased and many students waited in long lines to vote.
The election used electronic voting machines in almost all colleges, and officials planned to count DUSU votes on Saturday.
Delhi University students voted in DUSU elections, recording 40.46% turnout.
The Satya Niketan hostel collapse, which killed seven people, remained a campaign issue.
Students cited Instagram visibility, freebies and campus-specific concerns as voting influences.
Security was tightened, queues formed, and party supporters were restricted on campuses.
Around 960 EVMs were deployed, while DUSU vote counting was scheduled for Saturday.
- Who
- Delhi University students, student candidates, campus organisations and election officials participated in the DUSU elections.
- What
- Students voted in Delhi University Students’ Union and college-level elections amid debates over social media campaigning, freebies, representation, infrastructure and the Satya Niketan collapse.
- When
- Polling took place on Friday; the Satya Niketan collapse had occurred 12 days earlier, and DUSU counting was scheduled for Saturday.
- Where
- Voting took place across Delhi University campuses, including North Campus, South Campus, Miranda House, Sri Venkateswara College and Ramjas College.
- Why
- Students were choosing union representatives while candidates campaigned on issues including infrastructure, the Satya Niketan tragedy, representation and campus-specific concerns.
Supporters of Continued Focus
Skeptics of Campaign Focus
Satya Niketan as an election issue
Supporters of Continued Focus
Some students and campaigners considered the collapse important because it killed seven people, including five Delhi University students, and exposed concerns related to student safety and housing.
Skeptics of Campaign Focus
Other students questioned the sincerity and usefulness of online campaign activity around the collapse, saying similar issues had been raised before without producing results.
Social media campaigning
Supporters of Continued Focus
Some students said repeated visibility on Instagram helped them recognize candidates and influenced their decision to vote.
Skeptics of Campaign Focus
Other students viewed online campaigning as insufficiently genuine, especially when it was accompanied by freebies such as movie tickets, dinners or gift hampers.
Campaign priorities
Supporters of Continued Focus
Some students emphasised representation, including the lack of women among prominent candidates for president and vice-president.
Skeptics of Campaign Focus
In North Campus, students reported that candidates focused more on infrastructure than student housing because campus concerns differed by location.
- DUSU turnout
- 40.46%, higher than 35.2% in 2024 and 39.36% in 2025, but lower than 42% in 2023.
- Satya Niketan deaths
- Seven people died in the hostel building collapse, including five Delhi University students.
- Electronic voting machines
- About 960 EVMs were deployed, with 40 held in reserve.
- Ramjas College turnout
- 2,578 of 5,973 students voted in the college and DUSU elections, producing about 43% turnout.
- Miranda House turnout
- The college recorded 32% turnout.
- Election security
- North Campus security was tightened from 8:30 a.m., with barricades restricting outsider access.
- College-level result
- The SFI nominee won the presidential post at Bhaskaracharya College.