BJP Student Wing Secures Major Victory in Delhi University Union Polls
Photo: Collected
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, has swept the Delhi University Students Union elections by securing victory in three of the four central panel posts, reinforcing the party's strong foothold among the capital's youth despite recent controversies and anti-establishment student movements.
The elections mark the first major electoral test in the national capital following a series of high-profile student protests, including demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, protests led by opposition figures regarding educational reforms, and public outcry over the demolition of student hostels in Satya Niketan. Despite opposition campaigns highlighting government apathy, question paper leaks, medical entrance exam irregularities, and nationwide youth demonstrations, the latest results demonstrate that the ruling party retains substantial backing among Delhi University students.
In the contest for the presidency, ABVP candidate Yash Dabas emerged victorious after a fiercely fought battle against National Students Union of India candidate Vijay Mina. Although Mina led the count through the initial 14 rounds, Dabas surged ahead in the final six rounds to secure 25,576 votes against Mina's 22,523. Left-wing candidate Nanya Raturi finished a distant third with 5,377 votes.
The ABVP continued its dominance by capturing the secretary post, where Ria Chauria secured 21,650 votes to defeat NSUI candidate Namrata Choudhary, who polled 14,869 votes, while the left-wing candidate accumulated 8,734 votes. The joint secretary position also went to the ruling party's affiliate, with ABVP candidate Lakshya Raj Singh garnering 16,615 votes to edge out NSUI's Gopal Choudhary, who finished with 15,206 votes.
The sole blemish for the ABVP came in the vice-presidential race, which was won by Dipanshu Shokin, an independent candidate who ran after being denied a ticket by the Congress-backed NSUI and refusing party directives to withdraw his nomination. Shokin pulled off a rare independent victory in Delhi University polls by securing a massive 30,615 votes. ABVP candidate Ishu Maurya finished second with 16,910 votes, while the official NSUI candidate managed a meager 4,313 votes.
Political analysts note that the outcome provides a major morale boost for the BJP, particularly as the results coincided with a nationwide youth mobilization campaign led by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was addressing a student rally in Madhya Pradesh's Indore on Saturday as the votes were tallied. By retaining the presidency, secretary, and joint secretary posts—the exact same positions they won in the previous election cycle—the ABVP proved that its influence among right-leaning campus demographics remains largely insulated from broader political headwinds.
