Full Breakdown
Delhi University Students’ Union 2026 Election: Counting, Contest and Controversy
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Counting Update
Counting began at 8 a.m. on September 19 2026 in the Multipurpose Hall of the University Sports Stadium, North Campus. After the third round, NSUI candidate Vijay Shankar Meena led the presidential race by 3,571 votes, ahead of ABVP’s Yash Dabas by 441 votes. In the vice-president race, independent Deepanshu Shokeen topped the tally with 4,264 votes, while ABVP’s Ishu Maurya was second with 2,389 votes. The secretary post remained with ABVP’s Riya Chhawdi at 2,805 votes, and independent Vishesh Yadav led the joint-secretary contest with 2,598 votes. Earlier rounds reported divergent leads: The Hindu placed Dabas ahead after the seventh round, while the Economic Times showed Meena ahead after the tenth round.
Background & Context
Polling was conducted on September 18 2026 in two shifts across 52 DU colleges, with a turnout of 40.46 % – the highest in three years. Twenty candidates contested four central posts. Key campaign issues included student safety, hostel accommodation and campus infrastructure, amplified by the collapse of a five-storey PG building in Satya Niketan on September 6, which killed seven people.
Data & Statistics
- Eligible voters: more than 1.51 lakh students.
- EVMs: 1,000 arranged, 960 deployed, 40 in reserve.
- Counting tables: eight operating simultaneously; results expected between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. (DUSU Chief Returning Officer Rajesh Singh).
- Turnout: 40.46 % (university officials).
Official Statements & Responses
DUSU Chief Returning Officer Rajesh Singh confirmed counting across eight tables and projected a declaration of results between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. Outgoing DUSU president Aryan Maan praised the security arrangements, calling the process “transparent and well-coordinated” and expressed confidence in an ABVP sweep of all four posts.
Criticism & Opposition
Both student wings exchanged accusations of intimidation. ABVP’s state secretary Sarthak Sharma alleged that NSUI workers attacked ABVP members at a residence in Hari Mandir, while NSUI’s media in-charge Ravi Pandey claimed ABVP cadres targeted NSUI candidates Vijay Meena and Gopal Choudhary.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on which candidate leads the presidential race. The Hindu’s live count placed Dabas ahead after the seventh round, whereas the Economic Times’ tenth-round update showed Meena ahead with 11,966 votes to ABVP’s 11,472. Similarly, the vice-president lead oscillated between independent Deepanshu Shokeen (Economic Times, 15,601 votes after tenth round) and ABVP’s Ishu Maurya (Moneycontrol, 4,845 votes). These discrepancies highlight the fluid nature of the count and the need for final official results.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Once polling concludes, the EVMs will be securely transported by police to the Multipurpose Hall of the University Sports Stadium in North Campus. The machines will be opened at the time of counting on Saturday,” — Mr. Sharma, Delhi state secretary
- “Accommodation is the first and foremost demand. Rents are very high. Some DU colleges have hostels, but they either do not function properly or are closed. They should be reopened,” — Harsh Pandey
- “Today at 8:30 PM, the counting will begin. I am fully confident that the way you all have shown me love, the decision will be in my favour,” — Vijay Meena
- “The arrangements made for the counting of votes are transparent and well-coordinated.” — Aryan Maan, DUSU president