Abvp leads close Delhi University union polls as independent candidates surge

ABVP’s presidential candidate Yash Dabas has taken a narrow lead over the Congress-backed NSUI’s Vijay Shankar Meena as vote counting enters its final stages for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

After the eighth round of counting, Dabas held 9,827 votes against Meena’s 9,490. But the major surprise of the day is the surge of independent candidates, who are currently leading in two of the central panel's four key positions.

Deepanshu Shokeen, an independent, is leading the vice-presidential race with a commanding 12,910 votes. Vishesh Yadav, another independent, is ahead in the joint secretary contest with 6,797 votes, leading NSUI’s Gopal Choudhary.

In the secretary race, ABVP’s Riya Chhawdi is leading with 8,466 votes. The Left alliance (AISA-SFI), which fielded Ananya Raturi for president, has fallen behind early on, with Raturi securing only 288 votes in the first round.

A rise in voter turnout

More than 1.51 lakh students were eligible to vote in Friday's polling, which recorded a final turnout of 40.46 per cent. This represents a slight increase on the previous year's figure. Voting was held across 52 centres using a mix of electronic voting machines and traditional paper ballots, with long queues reported outside prominent colleges such as Ramjas and Miranda House.

While candidates await the final results, the election is already under heavy legal scrutiny. The Delhi High Court has barred any victory processions on roads, campuses, or hostels, warning of criminal action for violations.

Spending limits ignored

This court intervention follows widespread concern over campaign violations. Under the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, campaign spending is strictly capped at ₹5,000 per candidate, and printed campaign materials are banned in favour of handmade posters.

However, those rules were visibly ignored on the ground. An investigation by Newslaundry revealed that candidates bypassed the print ban by scanning handwritten notes and mass-producing them on low-quality paper for as little as ₹300 per bundle. The outlet also reported fleets of luxury SUVs, including Defenders and Thars, being used in rallies across the North Campus, alongside reports of sponsored trips and food distributions.

Meet the frontrunners

The two frontrunners reflect the contrasting networks vying for control of the university. Dabas, an international-level tennis player currently studying in the Department of Buddhist Studies, had to fend off late campaign-trail allegations over his academic record, which his supporters dismissed as a smear campaign.

Meena, who also studies in the Department of Buddhist Studies, campaigned on addressing student housing shortages and expanding scholarship access, aiming to claw back ground for the NSUI. Last year, the ABVP won three of the four central panel positions, leaving the NSUI with only the vice-presidency.

Away from the campaign trail, student concerns focused heavily on basic welfare. The collapse of a five-storey building in Satya Niketan earlier this month, which killed seven people including several students, pushed hostel accommodation and safety to the top of the political agenda. Students also campaigned heavily on exam reforms following summer agitations over national examination paper leaks.

To prevent clashes, police deployed more than 2,000 security and paramilitary personnel in a tight grid around the North Campus sports stadium, where counting continues.