ABVP’s Yash Dabas led the early counting for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president’s post on September 19, with NSUI’s Vijay Shankar Meena in second place as votes were counted at the university’s North Campus. The result will determine the composition of the student union’s central panel for the 2026-27 academic session.
After the first round, Dabas had secured 1,305 votes, while Meena had received 1,191 votes. Left alliance candidate Ananya Raturi had polled 288 votes. A total of 3,270 votes were counted in the first round, officials said, with the second round beginning shortly afterwards.
Counting for the four central panel posts and college union representatives began at 8 a.m. at the Multipurpose Hall of the University Sports Stadium. The contest involves the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India and the Left alliance of AISA and SFI.
The counting follows polling held across several Delhi University colleges on September 18. Officials said 1,000 electronic voting machines were deployed for the election, of which 960 were used for polling. After voting ended, the machines were transported under police security to the counting venue, where they were opened and counted.
More than 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed across the university during the counting process. Police personnel, foot patrols, motorcycle teams and PCR vans were positioned at strategic locations, while paramilitary forces were deployed at key points as part of the security arrangements, an officer said.
Traffic restrictions announced in a university advisory remained in force on September 19 until the results were declared. Police were coordinating with university authorities and college administrations over entry and exit points, student movement and other logistical arrangements around the counting centre. The measures affected key roads and access routes within and around the university campus.
Student welfare, campus facilities, hostel accommodation and safety were among the main campaign issues this year. Safety concerns gained prominence after the collapse of a five-storey paying guest building in Satya Niketan earlier this month, in which seven people, including students, were killed.
The election also follows student agitation in Delhi during June and July over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination reforms. The campaigns of the major student organisations drew attention to these concerns along with campus-related issues.
The previous year, ABVP won the president, secretary and general secretary posts, while NSUI secured the vice-president’s position. The final outcome of the 2026-27 central panel will be known after the remaining rounds of counting are completed and the university declares the results.
