GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Sept: The much-anticipated Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election results will be declared today, September 19, with counting beginning at 8 a.m. inside the multipurpose hall of the University Sports Stadium at North Campus. The election has witnessed a triangular contest between the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Congress’s National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), and the Left alliance comprising SFI and AISA.
Key Candidates in the Fray
For the post of DUSU president, the key candidates include NSUI’s Joslin Nandita Choudhary, Left alliance’s Anjali, and ABVP’s Arya Mann. Last year, NSUI made a strong comeback after seven years, clinching the posts of president and joint secretary. NSUI’s Raunak Khatri defeated ABVP’s Rishabh Chaudhary by over 1,300 votes in the presidential contest, while ABVP secured the vice-president and secretary posts.
Allegations of EVM Tampering
This year’s election has been mired in controversy, with NSUI accusing ABVP of tampering with electronic voting machines (EVMs). NSUI national president Varun Choudhary alleged that ABVP’s presidential candidate was seen signing and marking ballots in advance, a charge that DU authorities reportedly acknowledged.
Drawing a parallel with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent charges of “vote theft” at the national level, Choudhary said, “Just as Rahul Gandhi exposed vote theft by the ruling BJP, ABVP is also indulging in vote theft through EVM manipulation in DUSU elections.”
ABVP has strongly denied the allegations, calling them baseless and politically motivated.
Voting Process and Security Measures
Polling was held on Thursday under heavy security arrangements, with an estimated 40% voter turnout. Despite the presence of multiple contenders, the real fight appears to be between ABVP and NSUI.
Chief Election Officer Raj Kishore Sharma confirmed that voting was largely peaceful across most colleges. To ensure transparency and safety, the election process was closely monitored with CCTV cameras and drone surveillance.
A Battle of Allegations
Even on polling day, both ABVP and NSUI traded accusations. NSUI alleged vote manipulation in prominent colleges including Kirori Mal, Hindu, and Hansraj. The student outfit even demanded the cancellation of ABVP’s presidential candidate’s nomination.
ABVP, on the other hand, accused sitting DUSU president and NSUI leader Raunak Khatri of entering Kirori Mal College with outsiders and creating chaos.
What Lies Ahead
With counting underway, the outcome will determine whether NSUI can retain its grip on the union or whether ABVP will stage a comeback. The Left alliance, though not traditionally dominant, has fielded a strong candidate in Anjali and is expected to influence the final margins.
As results unfold, the 2025 DUSU elections will not only shape student politics at Delhi University but also set the tone for broader national political narratives, especially with both Congress and BJP closely invested in the outcome.
