DUSU poll results 2025: Vote counting begins; ABVP, NSUI in close contest — Live updates

NEW DELHI: The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown at Delhi University as counting of votes for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections begins at 8 am today inside the Multipurpose Hall at the University Sports Stadium, North Campus.

After a spirited campaign marked by “clean and green elections” and the visible rise of female candidates, all eyes are now on the battle between ABVP, NSUI, and the Left alliance (AISA-SFI) for the four key posts of president, vice-president, secretary, and joint secretary.Students voted in a noticeably calmer DUSU election on Thursday, although sparks flew between NSUI and ABVP over alleged poll malpractice.

The Delhi University elections were for electing college and university union members.

The results will be declared on Friday.Campus roads, typically strewn with discarded campaign flyers, were clean. The once-deafening noise was subdued. Voter turnout was low in the morning but picked up by noon as longer lines formed at booths. Among first-time voters there was palpable excitement.This year’s polls have seen better enforcement measures and heightened surveillance. Over 600 police personnel were deployed, strict anti-defacement curbs on campaign were imposed.

Security personnel meticulously verified student ID cards at multiple barricades set up to control the crowds.The measures follow last year’s controversy when Delhi High Court halted the counting after complaints of widespread defacement of property on campuses and outside by candidates surfaced. Students were seen tossing pamphlets in the air, leaving campus roads strewn with litter.Such scenes were absent this time, barring the few handwritten pamphlets found in the streets.

National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) supporters also raised counter-slogans near Ramjas College.DUSU chief election officer Raj Kishore Sharma later said that the polling was peaceful. After the voting concluded, the EVMs were placed in the strong room at the university’s sports complex multipurpose hall.This year’s voter turnout showed a slight improvement from last year, rising to 39.4% from 35.2%.

The voting was in two phases — from 8.30am to 1pm and 3pm to 7.30pm. Across 52 colleges and departments, 60,272 votes were cast from among 1,53,100 voters. The numbers could increase on Friday.The university set up 700 EVMs in 195 booths. A total of 21 candidates have contested for 4 central panel posts.Keshavi, a differently-abled English Honours student at Miranda House, said: “I want change, especially better rights and inclusion for persons with disabilities”.

Another student at Hindu College said that infrastructure reforms would be a major factor in deciding the vote.EVM glitches were reported at a few colleges.At Ramjas College, voting was halted for about 10 minutes after two machines developed snags. At Miranda House, one of the five machines developed a fault but it was fixed immediately. At Kirori Mal, an ink mark appearing next to a candidate’s name sparked claims of electoral manipulation.First-timers’ demandsElections for college-level unions added to the confusion on Thursday, especially for first-year students.At Miranda House, many students queued for over an hour and a half to cast their first vote. Sanvi and Shreya, friends pursuing a BA programme and both voting for the first time, said they hoped everyday issues would be addressed. “I think there can be better Wi-Fi and probably more facilities like air-conditioning in classrooms,” Sanvi said.“Everyone talks about cheaper transport. I hope these promises are fulfilled because it really matters to people like me who come from outside Delhi,” Riya, a Ramjas fresher, said.Malpractice chargeNSUI has blamed ABVP of indulging in vote manipulation. NSUI national president Varun Choudhary demanded the immediate rejection of ABVP’s presidential candidate’s nomination after alleged malpractice was reported from Kirori Mal, Hindu and Hansraj Colleges.

“The students will not tolerate this. They will answer ABVP’s dishonesty with their vote,” he said.“I have been to Hansraj and Kirori Mal, and on every EVM machine, a blue ink mark is placed in front of Aryan Maan (ABVP). Open vote tampering is happening,” NSUI president Joslyn Nandita Choudhary wrote on X in Hindi. Outgoing DUSU president from NSUI, Ronak Khatri, filed a police complaint alleging that ABVP had engaged in vote tampering.ABVP rejected the claim, terming it the “frustration” of NSUI. ABVP national general secretary Virendra Singh Solanki said: “NSUI is rattled by ABVP’s growing popularity and is resorting to making unfounded allegations. The CCTV footage should be reviewed. It will expose the lies of NSUI.”ABVP Delhi state secretary Sarthak Sharma said: “Just as Congress blames EVMs after each loss, NSUI is following the same path.”Some ABVP members accused Khatri of storming into Kirori Mal with outsiders, causing injuries to students.