DUSU Elections 2026: NOTA gets 23,942 votes, up 268 from last year

DUSU elections saw 23,942 NOTA votes across four key posts, up 268 from last year, with NOTA surpassing Left-wing candidates for several posts, amid student dissatisfaction over aggressive and money-driven campaigning.

In Short

• NOTA got 23,942 votes in DUSU elections, up by 268 from last year
• NOTA beat Left-wing candidates in several posts, including President and Secretary
• NOTA votes highest for Secretary at 7,884, surpassing AAP's student wing candidate

In the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, the 'None of the Above' (NOTA) option received a total of 23,942 votes across the four key posts of the central panel.

The figure marks an increase of 268 votes compared with the previous year. The NOTA option allows students to indicate that they do not prefer any of the listed candidates.

NOTA GETS MORE VOTES THAN LEFT CANDIDATES FOR SEVERAL POSTS

For several posts, NOTA received more votes than candidates from the Left-wing alliance of AISA-SFI. For the post of President, NOTA received 4,310 votes this time, compared with 3,175 votes in the previous year. This marks an increase of 1,135 votes.

For the Vice-President, however, NOTA votes declined. The option received 4,359 votes this year, compared with 5,820 votes previously.

The NOTA tally was higher than the 2,883 votes secured by AISA-SFI candidate Akshat Shikhar for the Vice-President post.

NOTA CROSSES 7,000 VOTES FOR SECRETARY AND JOINT SECRETARY

For the post of Secretary, NOTA received its highest tally of 7,884 votes. It also received more votes than Pankaj Kumar of the Aam Aadmi Party's student wing, ASAP, who secured 7,639 votes.

For Joint Secretary, NOTA received 7,389 votes, again exceeding the tally of Left-wing alliance candidate B. Parijat, who secured 5,837 votes.

STUDENTS EXPRESS DISSATISFACTION WITH ELECTION CAMPAIGNING

The figures come amid dissatisfaction expressed by students over the use of money and muscle power in student politics.

The input also notes that female students on campus have openly expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as excessive aggression and performative politics during the election campaign.

Students wanted to register their protest against DUSU elections becoming the exclusive domain of big-spending organisations such as ABVP and NSUI.

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE WINS VICE-PRESIDENT POST

The sentiment was also reflected in the Vice-President contest, where independent candidate Deepanshu Shaukeen won the post, surprising both major parties.

The NOTA figures, meanwhile, show that the option received more votes than Left-wing candidates for several posts.

The overall figures point to growing disillusionment among students with student organisations that mirror the structure and approach of traditional political parties.

- Ends