ABVP wins 3 of 4 DUSU posts; NSUI draws blank in Delhi University polls
Synopsis
ABVP has swept three of four DUSU posts, leaving the Congress-backed NSUI without a single seat — its worst Delhi University showing in recent memory. The result lands a sharp blow to Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' student outreach campaign, which the winning candidates mocked openly within hours of the count.
Key Takeaways
ABVP won three of four DUSU posts in elections held on 19 September 2026 .
Yash Dabas elected DUSU President ; Riya Chhawdi elected Secretary; Lakshay Raj Singh elected Joint Secretary.
NSUI , backed by the Congress, failed to win any of the four posts.
Independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen secured the Vice President's post.
All three ABVP winners criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme as ineffective among Delhi University students.
ABVP now leads a union representing approximately 1.5 lakh students under DUSU.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) swept three of the four contested posts in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections held on 19 September 2026, leaving the Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI) without a single seat. The sole exception was the Vice President's post, secured by independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen.
New DUSU President Vows to Champion Student Causes
Newly elected DUSU President Yash Dabas said the win had deepened rather than eased his obligations. 'After winning, I feel that the responsibility on my shoulders has increased. Now, I have to become the voice of every student and provide leadership to the 1.5 lakh students of Delhi University who come under DUSU. I have to fight for every issue faced by the students,' Dabas said.
Dabas also took a pointed jab at Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' outreach programme, saying it should have been called 'Chillana' (shout) rather than 'Goonj' (echo) — and that the only echo students truly heard was 'the chant of the ABVP's victory.'
Secretary Riya Chhawdi: From College Defeat to University Victory
Newly elected DUSU Secretary Riya Chhawdi described her win as particularly meaningful given that she had lost a college-level election just a year earlier. 'They say that a person who has experienced defeat once knows the joy of victory differently. I lost the college elections last year, and just a year later, I have directly become the Secretary of the Delhi University Students' Union,' she said.
Chhawdi was equally pointed about the NSUI's showing, noting that the party had previously managed to win at least one or two seats but this time returned empty-handed. 'ABVP has won three posts. This shows that Gen Z is with us. We will win all four next time,' she added.
Joint Secretary Singh: A Saffron Wave from Across India
Newly elected DUSU Joint Secretary Lakshay Raj Singh framed the results as a validation of years of sustained student outreach. 'It feels great. Years of struggle and hard work have finally paid off,' Singh said.
Addressing the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme, Singh argued that while the Congress was holding events across cities, students who had travelled from those very cities to study in Delhi cast their votes with the ABVP. 'That voice was raised in the colour of saffron, in the interest of the nation and students, and with slogans of 'Bharat Mata',' he said.
On independent candidate Shokeen's victory, Singh suggested the result was itself an indictment of the NSUI: 'Shokeen's win shows that no one should contest on NSUI ticket... The main reason NSUI did not win was that it was too focussed on criticising ABVP and not on the students' issues.'
Context: ABVP's Sustained Hold on DUSU
This outcome continues a broader pattern of ABVP dominance at Delhi University, one of India's largest central universities. The RSS-affiliated organisation has historically outperformed rivals at DUSU by mobilising a wide base across Delhi University's numerous colleges. The Congress had invested visible effort in the lead-up through the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' campaign, reportedly aimed at reconnecting with student voters — an effort that, critics now note, failed to translate into electoral traction.
With ABVP holding the presidency, secretaryship, and joint secretaryship, the incoming union leadership will face early pressure to demonstrate concrete action on student welfare — the very platform on which the ABVP campaigned most vocally.
Point of View
But visible activity at the national level did not substitute for ground-level college-by-college mobilisation, which remains ABVP's core strength. The independent candidate's Vice Presidential win is the more quietly significant result: it signals that a section of Delhi University voters rejected both blocs, which should give ABVP pause before reading this as unconditional student endorsement. Whether the new DUSU leadership converts campaign pledges on student welfare into measurable action — or defaults to political point-scoring — will define how durable this mandate proves.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the DUSU elections held on 19 September 2026?
ABVP won three of the four contested posts: Yash Dabas became President, Riya Chhawdi became Secretary, and Lakshay Raj Singh became Joint Secretary. Independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen won the Vice President's post, while NSUI failed to win any seat.
What is DUSU and why do these elections matter?
DUSU, the Delhi University Students' Union, is one of India's most politically watched student bodies, representing approximately 1.5 lakh students across Delhi University's colleges. Its elections are closely followed because they are seen as a barometer of student sentiment and often serve as a training ground for future politicians.
What is the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme that ABVP winners criticised?
'Chhatron Ki Goonj' is a student outreach initiative associated with Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, aimed at engaging student communities. All three ABVP winners used their post-election remarks to dismiss the programme as having had no electoral impact at Delhi University.
Why did NSUI fail to win any DUSU post?
ABVP's Lakshay Raj Singh argued that NSUI focused too heavily on criticising the rival organisation rather than addressing concrete student issues. The party had previously managed to win at least one or two seats, making this outcome its worst recent performance at DUSU.
What did new DUSU President Yash Dabas promise after his victory?
Dabas pledged to become the voice of every student under DUSU and to fight for every issue faced by Delhi University's 1.5 lakh students. He described his election win as an increase in responsibility rather than a personal achievement.
