NSUI stirs DUSU poll pot, fields woman candidate for top post after 5 yrs

The high-stakes students' union elections at Delhi University are set to witness a notable development this year. After a gap of five years, a woman candidate has entered the race for the president’s post from a mainstream student outfit.

The National Students' Union of India (NSUI), student wing of the Congress, has nominated Joslyn Nandita Choudhary as its contender for the top post in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections for the 2025-26 academic session.

This marks the return of female representation at the very top, a rarity in campus politics. Last time the NSUI fielded a woman candidate for the post of president was in the 2019-20 DUSU polls, when Chetna Tyagi contested but lost to ABVP’s Akshit Dahiya. Before her, NSUI’s Sonia Sapra contested in 2008, but was defeated by ABVP’s Nupur Sharma. Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), RSS-BJP backed student wing, last fielded a woman candidate for president in 2011.

For over a decade, the NSUI and ABVP have dominated DUSU politics, claiming most of the central posts. However, the top position of the president has largely remained male dominated despite Delhi University having a significant female student base.

Choudhary’s nomination signals NSUI’s attempt to project a more inclusive image while also appealing to first-time voters who value representation and diversity. It also ensures that this year’s contest will not only be about traditional rivalries between the NSUI and ABVP but also about the broader debate on women’s leadership in student politics.

DUSU elections are among the most influential student polls in the country, often seen as a stepping stone to larger political roles. Whether Joslyn Nandita Choudhary secures victory remains to be seen, but her presence has already added a new dimension to the 2025-26 elections, highlighting the long-standing gap in gender representation at Delhi University’s highest student office.