DUSU Election 2026 voting began across Delhi University colleges on September 18, with 1,51,842 students eligible to vote in two shifts amid extensive security arrangements and traffic restrictions around the North and South campuses. Counting will take place on September 19 at the university’s Sports Complex.
Students at morning colleges can vote from 8:30 am to 1 pm, while those enrolled in evening colleges can vote from 3 pm to 7:30 pm. The university has arranged more than 1,100 electronic voting machines, comprising 830 ballot units and 281 control units, along with 158 polling booths and 12 control rooms.
The Delhi Police has deployed more than 2,000 personnel at strategic locations to maintain law and order during polling. Quick reaction teams, riot-control vehicles and special vehicles for detaining troublemakers have also been planned. Police and Delhi University officials are coordinating to control student gatherings, vehicle convoys and the use of hooters around polling locations.
Traffic movement on key roads around North Campus, including Mall Road, Chhatra Marg and the area near the Arts Faculty, will be completely restricted on September 18 and 19. The restrictions are expected to affect students, university staff, local residents and other road users travelling through the campus area.
Rajendra Prasad Meena, deputy commissioner of police for Shahdara, said arrangements had been completed for Shyam Lal College and Vivekananda College in the district. He said local police staff and additional personnel had been deployed, with patrols, CCTV monitoring and police station teams placed on alert. Drones may also be used for surveillance if required, while photographers will be present at the sites.
The contest for the four DUSU posts—president, vice-president, secretary and joint secretary—features candidates from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the National Students’ Union of India, and an AISA-SFI alliance. ABVP has nominated Yash Dabas for president, Eeshu Maurya for vice-president, Riya Chhabri for secretary and Lakshyaraj Singh for joint secretary. NSUI has fielded Vijay Shankar Meena, Veer Chatrath, Namrata Chaudhary and Gopal Chaudhary for the four posts. The AISA-SFI alliance has nominated Ananya Raturi, Akshat Shikhar, Stanzin Deskhyong and B. Parijat.
Student safety and accommodation have emerged as campaign issues following the Satya Niketan building accident. ABVP has raised the idea of a student housing cell and safety audits, while the left alliance has highlighted affordable accommodation and hostel-related concerns. NSUI has centred its campaign on student interests, according to the supplied election coverage.
The university said preparations had been made for first-time voters, who must carry the identity card issued by their college, confirm their names on the voter list and vote at their designated college. Around 170 people, including 68 observers, have been assigned to the counting process. The university said electronic voting machines from about 85% of colleges had been transported through 12 routes under security and would be kept in control rooms after polling. Counting is scheduled at the Sports Complex on September 19.
