DUSU Elections 2025: 21 candidates cleared as Delhi University gears up for September 18 polls

The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections have entered their final stage with 21 candidates cleared to contest for the four top posts — president, vice president, secretary, and joint secretary.

The polls will be conducted on September 18, 2025, while counting of votes will take place on September 19.A direct face-off between the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), affiliated with the Congress party, is expected to define the contest. The elections, however, also feature independent candidates, reflecting the competitive and fragmented nature of campus politics.

The presidential race

Nine candidates are in the fray for the post of president. The list, issued after scrutiny and withdrawal of nomination papers, has been declared provisional and remains subject to further detailed verification of documents. If any discrepancy is found, the nomination will stand cancelled without prior notice.

Vice president, secretary and joint secretary posts

For vice president, three candidates have been provisionally cleared, all from the Department of Buddhist Studies: Govind Tanwar, Rahul Jhansla, and Sohan Kumar.

The secretary’s post will see a four-way contest between Abhinandana Pratyashi (Hindu College), Kabir (Law Centre – II), Kunal Choudhary (Department of Buddhist Studies), and Mohit (Shri Ram College of Commerce).For joint secretary, five names have been cleared: Abhishek Kumar (Hindu College), Akshita (Bhagini Nivedita College), Ameeliya Ann Varghese (Department of Social Work), Deepika Jha (Department of Buddhist Studies), and Lavkush Bhadana (Zakir Husain Delhi College).

Issues shaping this year’s campaign

While banners and sloganeering remain part of the traditional election narrative, this year’s campaigns are focused on long-standing concerns of Delhi University students.

Why DUSU elections matter nationally

DUSU elections are closely watched beyond the campus. Historically, they have served as a launchpad for national leaders, including late finance minister Arun Jaitley and Congress leader Ajay Maken. Political parties use the polls as a barometer of youth sentiment and as a testing ground for their outreach strategies.

Election schedule

The official schedule for the DUSU elections 2025–26 is as follows:

As campaigning enters its final stretch, all eyes are now on September 18, when students will cast their votes to decide the next leadership of Delhi University’s student body. May the elections reflect the true voice of the students and reward the most deserving leadership.