ABVP, NSUI gear up to battle in student union poll on Sept 27

The Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) elections, scheduled for September 27, are expected to be a tough battle between the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).

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The deadline for submitting nominations is September 17, with the final list of candidates to be published the following day. Voting will occur in two shifts, ie from 8.30 am to 1 pm for day classes, and from 3 pm to 7.30 pm for evening classes.

The ABVP, affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has historically dominated the DUSU elections. In 2023, the organisation secured three out of four posts—president, secretary and joint secretary—while the NSUI managed to win the position of vice president. This marked a return to the polls after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic, the ABVP’s dominance was even more pronounced. In 2018 and 2019, the organisation won both top positions, leaving NSUI with the role of secretary. The 2017 elections saw NSUI’s last major victory, with the student union claiming the top two posts and ABVP holding the secretary positions. ABVP’s strong performance continued in 2016, securing three seats while NSUI took the joint secretary position.

The ABVP’s peak came in 2014 and 2015, when it swept all four DUSU positions again for the first time in 18 years. In contrast, the NSUI’s last sweep of the DUSU polls was in 2007.

As the election date approaches, both parties are preparing for a vigorous campaign to influence the student body and secure their positions in the union.