Who is Joslyn Choudhary? The NSUI presidential candidate who lost to Aryan Maan in DUSU elections 2025

The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections 2025 ended with Aryan Maan of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) winning the coveted president’s post. But the contest also put the spotlight on Joslyn Nandita Choudhary, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) candidate who became the first woman in 17 years to contest for the president’s seat from her party.

While she did not secure victory, her campaign brought fresh attention to issues of student welfare, gender inclusivity, and campus equity.

From Jodhpur to Delhi University

Choudhary, 23, hails from Pal Gaon in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, where she grew up in a farmer’s family. Her father is a farmer and her mother a homemaker, and she is the only daughter. Coming from a rural background, her decision to pursue higher education in Delhi was both a personal milestone and a reflection of the expanding reach of India’s university system.She joined Delhi University in 2019 and is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Buddhist Studies. Her academic interests, rooted in philosophy and ethics, shaped her worldview and resonated with her campaign themes of inclusivity, equality, and gender sensitivity.

Campaign shaped by student concerns

As a long-standing DU student, Choudhary built her platform around issues directly affecting campus life. Her manifesto focused on:

She also raised questions about the four-year undergraduate programme, arguing that it has increased pressure on classrooms, hostels, and university infrastructure.

Breaking barriers despite defeat

Although the final results went in favour of Aryan Maan and ABVP, Choudhary’s campaign has left a mark. Her candidature represented not just NSUI’s organisational strategy but also the aspirations of women in student politics. For many, her presence in the race was itself a milestone, signalling that women leaders are beginning to reclaim space in a domain long dominated by men.

Education as a bridge to leadership

Choudhary’s academic background and her lived experience as a student at Delhi University were central to her appeal. She embodied the story of a first-generation student from a rural background who rose to contest one of the most high-profile student elections in the country. While she may have lost this round, her trajectory reflects a growing trend: education as a powerful bridge that connects personal ambition with public leadership.