DUSU Polls 2025: DU holds review meeting ahead of elections; polling arrangements finalised

Ahead of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, the university held a review meeting to finalise arrangements for the smooth conduct of the polls. The meeting took place at the Council Hall, Vice-Regal Lodge, and was chaired by Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh. The DUSU elections are scheduled to be held on September 18.

The university announced that all measures will be taken to ensure fair, transparent and peaceful elections. Both the University of Delhi and Delhi Police reiterated their commitment to enforcing the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations and the official election guidelines, with zero tolerance for violations.

As per the arrangements, college-level polls will be conducted through paper ballots, with individual colleges responsible for managing the process. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used only for electing DUSU office bearers.

DUSU Election 2025: Vote counting on September 19

The Chief Election Officer also instructed principals, heads of departments and deans to regularly follow notifications issued on the DUSU webpage for updated directions. The counting of votes will take place the day after the elections, on September 19.

Delhi Police assured that comprehensive security arrangements would be in place across campuses and polling centres on election day. The DCP (North Zone) confirmed deployment of adequate personnel to maintain law and order and to facilitate the smooth conduct of voting.

“The College Principals/HODs/Deans are advised to follow the instructions issued in the form of notifications on the DUSU webpage from time to time. Important mobile numbers and relevant instructions are made available to the participants,” the press release said.

The meeting was attended by senior university officials, including Rajni Abbi, Dean of Colleges; the Director, South Campus; Proctor; Registrar; Chief Election Officer, Raj Kishor Sharma; Chief Returning Officer, Rajesh Singh; and college principals, heads of departments, provosts, and wardens of hostels. Delhi Police officials, including DCP (North District) Raja Bantha, also participated.

Key details of campaigns announced

Recently, the candidates for the DUSU Elections 2025-26 announced along with key details of their campaigns and manifestos. The Congress-backed NSUI has fielded Joslyn Nandita Choudhary, a postgraduate student of Buddhist Studies, as its presidential candidate, marking the first time in 17 years that a woman has been nominated for the post.

The NSUI manifesto includes a monthly allowance for students with disabilities, support for minority groups, and women-focused initiatives such as dedicated helplines, menstrual health awareness programmes, and sanitary pad vending machines.

The RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) announced Aryan Mann, a postgraduate student in Library Science, as its candidate for president. The ABVP manifesto proposes subsidised health insurance, financial assistance for final-year research scholars, free Wi-Fi across the university, and campus accessibility audits to promote inclusivity.

Alliance releases election manifesto

The Left-backed SFI-AISA alliance nominated Anjali from Indraprastha College for Women as its presidential candidate.

Their manifesto focuses on opposing fee hikes, establishing elected Internal Complaints Committees and gender sensitisation cells, and ensuring representation of women’s colleges in the union. The alliance also pledged to restore equal opportunity and grievance redressal mechanisms across the university.

The Delhi High Court, in a recent hearing, directed the university to ensure elections are held in an orderly manner, without misuse of vehicles or violation of rules, and to submit a compliance affidavit by September 15. In the last year's elections, NSUI won the president and joint secretary posts, while ABVP retained the secretary post and secured the vice president.