Full Breakdown
Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) 2026 Elections: Voting Begins Amid Heightened Security
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Polling Day on September 18, 2026
On September 18, 2026, students of Delhi University (DU) cast votes for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) central panel—president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary. Polling was conducted in two shifts (08:30 a.m.–01:00 p.m. for day-college students; 03:00 p.m.–07:30 p.m. for evening-college students) across 158 booths and 12 control rooms on the North and South campuses. More than 1,51,842 students were eligible to vote.
Background & Context
The 2026 contest follows a tense campaign marked by sporadic clashes, allegations of intimidation, and a high-profile court observation. The Delhi High Court warned it could withhold counting or defer result declaration if it is not satisfied with university and police reports on alleged violence and the presence of outsiders. The election pits the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) against the Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and a left-leaning alliance of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). Smaller groups, including the Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP) linked to the Aam Admi Party, also fielded candidates.
Timeline
- Earlier this month – Campaign activities concluded; university held a high-level security review chaired by Prof Yogesh Singh.
- September 18, 2026 – Polling day; traffic on Mall Road, Chhatra Marg and University Road restricted.
- September 19 – Counting scheduled to begin at 08:00 a.m. in the Multipurpose Hall of the University Sports Stadium, North Campus.
Official Statements & Responses
The Delhi High Court warned it could withhold counting if university and police reports on campaign-time violence are unsatisfactory. Police spokespersons emphasized that women constables were posted at women’s colleges and that “no firing” occurred during recent clashes, calling contrary claims “completely false.” Additional DCP Pukhraj K Gupta explained that North Campus was divided into five zones and 23 sectors, each overseen by an ACP-rank officer and an Inspector-rank officer, to manage crowd flow and prevent unauthorized gatherings. Vice-Chancellor Prof Yogesh Singh led a meeting with college principals, hostel provosts and police officials to finalize security protocols.
Criticism & Opposition
ABVP Delhi State secretary Sarthak Sharma alleged that an incident outside Law Centre-I, in which ABVP workers were injured, was an attempt to intimidate the organization’s cadre and called for action against the perpetrators.
On-the-Ground Reports
Students reported injuries to two 19-year-old individuals during an altercation at Satyawati College, with police seizing two damaged vehicles for examination. CCTV footage is being reviewed, and police have dismissed rumors of gunfire.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Security personnel numbers differ across outlets (? 900 vs. > 2,000 vs. > 600).
- Presidential candidate count varies (seven, 20, or 25).
- Exact voter eligibility is consistently reported as 1,51,842, though some sources round to “more than 1.5 lakh.”
What’s Next
Counting of votes will commence at 08:00 a.m. on September 19 at the University Sports Stadium, North Campus. Police personnel will remain deployed during the counting process to ensure a peaceful declaration of results. The Delhi High Court’s earlier warning leaves open the possibility of judicial intervention should the university or police fail to address the court’s concerns about election-related violence.