DUSU Election 2026: Around 36% voter turnout recorded in first phase

Delhi University Students Union polling recorded about 36 per cent turnout in its first phase on Friday. The closely watched three-way contest has sharpened attention on student welfare, safety and campus facilities.

In Short

• Polling started at 8.30 am for four central panel posts
• Around 36 per cent turnout was recorded in the first phase
• ABVP, NSUI and AISA-SFI are locked in a keen three-way battle

The Delhi University Students Union elections recorded approximately 36 per cent voter turnout in the first phase on Friday, officials said. Polling for students attending evening classes is still under way.

The election is a contest between the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI), and the AISA-SFI alliance.

Voting is being held for four central panel posts—president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary—along with college representatives.

Polling began at 8.30 am. Last year, student elections across most Delhi University colleges recorded 39.45 per cent turnout.

KEY CANDIDATES

ABVP has fielded Yash Dabas for president, Ishu Maurya for vice-president, Riya Chhawadi for secretary and Lakshya Raj Singh for joint secretary.

NSUI candidates include Vijay Shankar Meena for president, Vir Chatrath for vice-president, Namrata Chaudhary for secretary and Gopal Choudhary for joint secretary.

The AISA-SFI alliance has nominated Ananya Raturi for president, Akshat Shikhar for vice-president, Stanzin Deskyong for secretary and B Parijaat for joint secretary.

ABVP, NSUI RECORD FROM PREVIOUS YEARS

In 2025, ABVP won three of the four central panel posts, including the president’s position, while NSUI secured the vice-president’s post.

ABVP’s Aryan Maan won the president’s post with 28,841 votes, while NSUI’s Rahul Jhansla won the vice-president’s post with 29,339 votes.

COUNTING ON SATURDAY

Officials said 1,000 electronic voting machines have been deployed, with 960 in use and 40 kept in reserve. Twelve control rooms will operate during polling.

After voting, the EVMs will be transported under police security to the Multipurpose Hall of the University Sports Stadium in North Campus.

Counting is scheduled for Saturday.

Student welfare, hostels, campus infrastructure and safety have emerged as key campaign issues following the Satya Niketan building collapse earlier this month, in which seven people, including students, died.

- Ends