Vote counting for the four central panel positions of the Delhi University Students Union began at 8 AM on Saturday inside the Multipurpose Hall at the University Sports Stadium in North Campus. University Chief Election Officer and Proctor Manoj Singh, alongside administrative staff, maintained close oversight inside the counting venue and the strong room. With electronic voting machines being unsealed round by round, candidates and student organization volunteers followed each update closely. A total of 20 candidates across various student outfits are contesting the posts of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Joint Secretary, with final outcomes anticipated between 1 PM and 2 PM.
Law Centre Impersonation Row Triggers Political Confrontation
The counting process unfolded alongside political friction stemming from an incident at the Delhi University Law Centre during polling. A female student affiliated with the National Students Union of India was apprehended attempting to cast a vote using a forged identification card. Administrative officials intervened immediately and took the student into custody, sparking sharp exchanges between student groups and national political figures.
Bharatiya Janata Party National Media Co-Convener Siddharth Yadav criticized the Congress party and its student affiliate, targeting Congress Member of Parliament Rahul Gandhi. Yadav stated that while Rahul Gandhi frequently raises allegations of stolen votes across the country, members of his own student wing were caught red-handed attempting fraudulent voting. Yadav demanded an open public apology from Rahul Gandhi to the students and youth of the country regarding the matter.
High Court Directives and Law Enforcement Deployment
To preserve order throughout North Campus and the counting perimeter, over 2,000 personnel from the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces were mobilized. Barricades were erected around the Multipurpose Hall, barring entry to unauthorized individuals without official accreditation. Senior police personnel and the university proctor remained on site to ensure counting proceeded smoothly and transparently.
Authorities also enforced strict instructions issued by the Delhi High Court. Under these judicial directions, no victory processions, unruly gatherings, or loud DJ sound systems are permitted inside the campus, hostels, or along Delhi city roads following the declaration of results. Both the police and the university administration cautioned that anyone violating these restrictions would face direct legal proceedings and monetary penalties.
Voter Turnout Reflects Student Issues
Official tallies across all 52 designated polling booths recorded an overall voter turnout of 40.46 percent for Friday's voting. This marks an increase compared to the 39.45 percent participation rate registered during the 2025 student union elections. The heightened civic participation followed youth demonstrations staged months earlier at Jantar Mantar, which elevated campus safety and institutional accountability to the forefront of student discussions.
Living arrangements remained a dominant talking point during the campaign cycle. Students from outside Delhi underscored the severe shortage of safe, reasonably priced paying guest accommodations and college hostels. Demands regarding improved hostel mess administration, affordable nutritional meals, metro concession passes, and streamlined communication with university administrators were key factors that motivated students to exercise their ballots.
Central Panel Candidates in Contention
A three-way competition defined the central panel race across all four posts among the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the National Students Union of India, and the Left alliance
- President: The main race features Yash Dabas (ABVP), Vijay Shankar Meena (NSUI), and Ananya Raturi (AISA).
- Vice President: The ballot features Ishu Maurya (ABVP), Veer Chatrath (NSUI), and Akshat Shikhar.
- Secretary: The seat is contested by Riya Chhawri (ABVP), Namrata Choudhary (NSUI), and Stanzin Deskyong.
- Joint Secretary: The contenders include Lakshya Raj Singh (ABVP), Gopal Choudhary (NSUI), and B. Parijat.
ABVP Presidential Candidate Highlights Safety and Access
Speaking to the press as counting progressed, ABVP presidential nominee Yash Dabas expressed assurance regarding an outright sweep across all four central seats. Dabas stated that strong voter turnout indicated widespread student trust in the organization's nationalist platform and ongoing campus initiatives.
Dabas emphasized the urgent requirement for safety inspections covering private rental hostels and paying guest lodgings near campus, pointing specifically to Satya Niketan following recent adverse occurrences. He stated that student protection cannot be compromised and urged the university administration to establish an inspection panel to verify regulatory adherence across local accommodations. Additionally, he called for stringent restrictions on non-student outsiders entering university premises, arguing that campus grounds should be reserved for research, academic pursuits, and constructive union activities. He noted previous organizational efforts, such as establishing Pink Booths for female students and organizing specialized athletic programs.
Local College Union Results Announced
Prior to the conclusion of the central panel count, individual college election declarations highlighted competitive gains for multiple student platforms
- Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP): The organization achieved a clean sweep at Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), securing the President, Secretary, and two Councilor positions. It also won major posts at Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Sri Aurobindo College (Morning), Shivaji College, Bharati College, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Shyama Prasad Mukherji College, and Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College.
- National Students Union of India (NSUI): NSUI captured executive posts, including President and Secretary, at Motilal Nehru College (Morning) and Aryabhatt College. Its candidates also picked up key positions at Bhagini Nivedita College, Ram Lal Anand College, and Kirori Mal College. Winning candidates from Aryabhatt College met with NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar following their victory.
- Left Organizations (SFI Alliance): The Students Federation of India secured the Joint Secretary position at Zakir Husain College (Morning), while allied candidates maintained competitive showings in several academic faculties.
Campaign Disagreements and Regulatory Disputes
The polling phase was not without friction. Two individuals were handed over to police personnel at Dyal Singh College during voting on charges of distributing pamphlets containing misleading details. Concurrently, the NSUI raised accusations against university administrators, claiming that union leaders were subjected to unwarranted harassment and detention during the election process. The complete tally will settle these contested races as the final declaration approaches.
