The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) secured three of the four key posts in the 2026 Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections, prompting sharp reactions from BJP leaders who used the results to target Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his recent youth outreach campaign.
The ABVP won the president, secretary and joint secretary positions, while independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen secured the vice-president’s post. The Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), which had won the vice-president’s position last year, failed to secure any of the four central panel posts this time.
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Union Health Minister JP Nadda took a dig at Rahul Gandhi while reacting to the results. Referring to Gandhi’s recent student outreach initiative, “Chhatron Ki Goonj”, Nadda said he had not heard the “goonj” but had definitely heard the “dhamaka”.
Other BJP leaders also used the election outcome to criticise the Congress. Some described Gandhi’s outreach as “Jhooth Ki Goonj” and presented the DUSU results as an indication of student sentiment.
ABVP presidential candidate Yash Dabas defeated NSUI-backed candidate Vijay Shankar Meena. Dabas polled 24,576 votes, compared with Meena’s 22,523, winning by a margin of 2,053 votes.
ABVP also secured the secretary’s post, with Riya Chhawdi receiving 21,650 votes. The NSUI candidate in the contest polled 14,869 votes.
For joint secretary, ABVP’s Lakshya Raj Singh won with 16,615 votes. Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha candidate Vishesh Yadav finished second with 15,778 votes, while NSUI candidate Gopal Chaudhary received 15,206 votes.
The vice-president’s contest produced a different outcome. Deepanshu Shokeen, a former NSUI member who was not given the organisation’s ticket, contested as an independent and won the post.
The results drew congratulations from several senior BJP leaders. Home Minister Amit Shah said the victory reflected what he described as the trust of Delhi University’s youth in ABVP’s ideology and its stated focus on student welfare.
Education Minister Pralhad Joshi also congratulated ABVP workers, highlighting the organisation’s emphasis on student welfare, service and nation-building.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju described the result as a clear indication of the youth vote and congratulated the winning candidates. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta similarly congratulated Dabas, Chhawdi and Singh, linking their victories to ABVP’s stated values of knowledge, character and unity.
The DUSU election results are likely to draw attention beyond the university campus, given the wider political significance attached to student elections in Delhi. BJP leaders have already used the outcome to question the Congress’s appeal among university students, while the victory gives ABVP control of three major positions on the central panel.
The independent victory of Shokeen also stands out from the overall result, particularly because of his previous association with NSUI and his decision to contest after not receiving the organisation’s nomination.
