ABVP’s Yash Dabas Leads Early Count in DUSU Presidential Race

Counting for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections kicked off on Saturday morning at the North Campus multipurpose hall, and the early numbers have already sparked a lot of chatter among students and faculty alike.

According to the tally released after the first round, ABVP’s Yash Dabas is leading the race for the coveted president’s post with 1,305 votes. Hot on his heels is NSUI’s Vijay Shankar Meena, who has gathered 1,191 votes. The Left alliance’s candidate, Ananya Raturi, trails significantly with just 288 votes.

In total, 3,270 votes were counted in this opening round. Officials say a second round is already underway, and the final picture won’t emerge until all votes from the four central panel posts and the college union seats are added up.

The DUSU election is always a big deal in India’s higher‑education landscape. This year, the contest pits the RSS‑linked ABVP, the Congress‑backed NSUI, and a coalition of left‑leaning groups (AISA‑SFI) against each other for control of the university’s top student body for the 2026‑27 academic session.

Last year’s outcome saw ABVP sweeping the top three spots – president, secretary and general secretary – while NSUI could only claim the vice‑president’s seat. That backdrop adds extra weight to the current numbers, as each side watches closely for any swing.

Beyond party affiliations, the campaign has been dominated by concerns that matter to everyday students: campus facilities, hostel accommodation, safety, and overall welfare. The recent collapse of a five‑storey PG building in Satya Niketan, which claimed seven lives, has only intensified the focus on safety and infrastructure.

Security on the counting day has been visibly ramped up. More than 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel are stationed around the university, with road restrictions, foot patrols, motorcycle squads and PCR vans making rounds. The EVMs – 1,000 in total, 960 of which were used for voting – were escorted by police to the counting venue and are now being tallied under close watch.

Students have also been vocal about broader academic issues. Earlier this summer, a group calling itself the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led protests demanding reforms after a NEET paper leak scandal, adding another layer of agitation to the campus atmosphere.

As the second round of counting proceeds, the university’s administration and law‑enforcement agencies continue to coordinate closely, managing entry‑exit points and ensuring a smooth, transparent process. The official word is that the results will be announced only after every vote is accounted for.

For now, Yash Dabas’s early lead gives ABVP a morale boost, while NSUI and the Left alliance keep a close eye on the numbers, hoping the final tally might tell a different story.