ABVP wins 3 of 4 DUSU posts; Delhi CM, BJP chief hail student mandate
Synopsis
ABVP has won three of four DUSU posts — President, Secretary, and Joint Secretary — in the September 2026 Delhi University Students' Union elections. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, a former DUSU president herself, and BJP Delhi chief Harsh Malhotra both framed the result as a decisive ideological verdict by students in favour of nationalism and Prime Minister Modi's vision.
Key Takeaways
ABVP won three of four DUSU posts — President, Secretary, and Joint Secretary — in elections held on 19 September 2026 .
Yash Dabas won the President's post; Riya Chhawadi won Secretary; Lakshya Raj Singh won Joint Secretary.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta , a former DUSU President ( 1996-97 ), congratulated the winners via a post on X, calling it a victory for 'Nation First' values.
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra described the result as a defeat for forces attempting to 'turn the campus into a political battleground.' Both leaders linked the victory to endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Viksit Bharat vision.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) swept three of four contested posts in the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections on 19 September 2026, securing the positions of President, Secretary, and Joint Secretary. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Harsh Malhotra led a chorus of congratulations from party leaders, describing the result as a reflection of students' nationalist resolve.
Who Won and What They Won
Yash Dabas claimed the DUSU President's post, while Riya Chhawadi won the Secretary's position and Lakshya Raj Singh secured the Joint Secretary's seat. The Vice-President's post was the only one the ABVP did not claim in this cycle. The results cement the organisation's dominant standing in one of India's most politically significant student union elections.
What Chief Minister Gupta Said
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, herself a former DUSU President from the 1996-97 batch, posted her congratulations on X, framing the outcome in ideological terms. 'The wins of Yash Dabas for the President's post, Riya Chhawadi for the Secretary's post, and Lakshya Raj Singh for the Joint Secretary's post represent a triumph of youth faith in the values of 'Knowledge, Character, and Unity' as well as 'Nation First',' she wrote.
Gupta also invoked her personal bond with the campus: 'My connection with Delhi University and DUSU is deeply personal. It was on this very campus that my journey — from student life to the responsibilities of DUSU President — was shaped. Therefore, today's historic victory is a moment of special joy for me.' She added that the result reflects students' 'unwavering faith in the leadership' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and their commitment to a developed India.
Delhi BJP President's Sharp Political Reading
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra cast the victory in broader ideological terms, arguing it went beyond three union posts. 'This victory is not merely about winning three posts. It is a defeat for those forces that wanted to turn the campus into a political battleground and mislead the youth in the name of Gen Z,' he said.
Malhotra alleged that opposing forces had sought to introduce what he called the agenda of the 'tukde-tukde gang' into Delhi University hostels, and accused them of attempting to replace books with 'the flag of hatred.' 'Today, the students of Delhi University have sent out a clear message that Delhi's youth no longer accepts politics based on false promises and foreign funding,' he said. He described the ABVP's win as a 'resounding endorsement' of Prime Minister Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat.
DUSU Elections in Context
DUSU polls are closely watched as a barometer of political momentum among urban youth, with both the ruling BJP-affiliated ABVP and opposition-linked organisations fielding candidates. The election regularly draws high-decibel campaigns and significant media attention. Notably, this is the latest in a series of ABVP victories at DUSU — a pattern that Delhi BJP leaders have repeatedly linked to broader electoral support for the party's ideology among young voters.
What Comes Next
The newly elected office-bearers are expected to take charge of the union formally in the coming days. Delhi BJP expressed confidence that the ABVP would 'establish new benchmarks of education, values and service at Delhi University.' Opposition student organisations, which failed to capture the top post, have not yet responded publicly to the results.
Point of View
But the BJP's framing here — linking a student union result directly to Modi's Viksit Bharat narrative — reveals how far Delhi's ruling party is willing to stretch the interpretive arc of a campus election. The more substantive question is whether ABVP's consistent dominance at DUSU translates into policy changes for students on fees, hostel conditions, or academic access — issues that rarely surface in the victory speeches. CM Gupta's personal history with DUSU adds credibility to her statement but also reinforces how tightly the BJP treats student politics as an extension of electoral politics. The absence of any public response from opposition student organisations so far is a story in itself.
NationPress
19 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the DUSU elections in September 2026?
The ABVP won three of the four contested DUSU posts on 19 September 2026. Yash Dabas won the President's post, Riya Chhawadi won Secretary, and Lakshya Raj Singh secured Joint Secretary.
What is DUSU and why do its elections matter?
DUSU stands for Delhi University Students' Union, one of India's most prominent student bodies. Its elections are seen as a political barometer for youth sentiment, with BJP-affiliated ABVP and opposition-linked organisations regularly competing for control of the union.
What did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta say about the ABVP win?
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, a former DUSU President herself (1996-97), posted congratulations on X, calling the result a triumph of 'Nation First' values and linking it to students' faith in Prime Minister Modi's leadership.
What did Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra say about the results?
Malhotra said the victory was not just about winning posts but a defeat for forces that 'wanted to turn the campus into a political battleground.' He described the result as an endorsement of PM Modi's Viksit Bharat vision.
Which DUSU post did the ABVP not win in 2026?
The ABVP did not win the Vice-President's post, securing three of the four contested positions — President, Secretary, and Joint Secretary.
