DUSU Elections 2025: ABVP, NSUI allege vote manipulation against each other | Watch

The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections on Thursday (September 18) were marred by drama as major student unions – ABVP and NSUI – accused each other of obstructing and interfering with the election process.

The two main groups – the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) – have witnessed heated exchanges with each other.

NSUI accused ABVP of “vote manipulation” in Kirori Mal, Hindu and Hansraj colleges. NSUI president Varun Choudhary alleged that “RSS-BJP-backed ABVP is trying to undermine the democratic spirit of DU elections” and demanded rejection of ABVP presidential candidate Aryan Mann.

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The ABVP rejected the accusations, calling them “frustration” on the part of the rival. Delhi ABVP secretary Sarthak Sharma said, “NSUI is no longer in the race for second place but is fighting for third place.”

He added that the group was “blaming the EVMs like the Congress does after every defeat”, according to PTI.

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ABVP supporters also alleged that current DUSU president and NSUI leader Ronak Khatri entered Kirori Mal College with outsiders.

Khatri posted a video on

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He then shared another video alleging that a foreign exchange student had physically attacked him.

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Voter turnout of 35% until the afternoon

The elections saw a turnout of 35% until 2:30 p.m. Chief Electoral Officer Raj Kishore Sharma said data received from seven colleges indicated that the trend was consistent with previous years, news agency PTI reported.

The voting takes place in two phases, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. for day students and from 3:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for evening classes. Around 2.8 lakh students are eligible to vote and the results will be announced on September 19.

At Miranda House College, more than 60% of its 5,000 students had already voted, making it one of the largest participants on the North campus, according to PTI.

Carnival atmosphere

Beyond the competition, Delhi University’s North Campus looked like a festival ground. Campaign vehicles, drummers and handouts like Vada Pav coupons and discount vouchers turned the day into a celebration.

Convoys of SUVs and motorcycles passed in front of the voting booths, while bundles of leaflets and even fake ₹500 notes marked “Children Bank of India” were thrown into the crowd, briefly leading onlookers to believe they had struck gold, according to PTI.

Security remained tight across the university with more than 600 police officers, 160 body cameras and drones deployed to maintain public order.

Despite the allegations, many students described the elections as their first taste of democracy, comparing the atmosphere to that of larger state and national elections.