DU election result: DUSU 2026 polls flout ₹5,000 expenditure cap; ABVP leads in early trends | Today’s news
The flood of leaflets and posters bearing the ballot numbers of ABVP, NSUI and other candidates brought back the familiar spectacle of the Delhi University term.
Despite DU’s clear election guidelines against the use of printed campaign materials, the Newslaundry report found that candidates used deceptive tactics to circumvent them — posters that appeared to be handwritten were actually mass-produced prints on shoddy paper.
Local printers told the newspaper that the materials were created by scanning handwritten notes and cheaply reproducing them, costing approx. ₹1,200 for 2,000 copies, lower-end variants are available at cost only ₹300 to ₹400 for a bundle of 1000 sheets.
The spectacle of the campaign went beyond pamphlets. Newslaundry reported that a line of Defenders, Scorpios and Thars were used at North Campus rallies earlier this week.
Students also reported that political groups organized extravagant outreach activities that used food distributions, donations and even sponsored trips to woo voters.
Read also | DUSU Election 2026: Key Candidates, Issues, Voting Time
Blatant disregard for Lyngdoh Committee guidelines
These high-budget campaigns are in stark contrast to the JM Lyngdoh Committee’s 2005 Supreme Court-ordered recommendations for university elections.
Under these rules, campaign spending is strictly limited ₹5,000 per candidate and the funds must be raised exclusively from voluntary student contributions.
The guidelines specifically prohibit printed campaign materials and limit candidates to hand-made posters at announced campus locations. The use of vehicles and loudspeakers for campaigning is also strictly prohibited and candidates are strictly liable for defacement of public property.
Newslaundry discovered that these rules were being broken before this year’s election.
The Delhi High Court on September 17 agreed to hear a plea regarding widespread violations of Lyngdoh guidelines and anti-defamation rules, casting a shadow of legal scrutiny over the ongoing election process.
Read also | DUSU Elections 2026: Dates, Key Candidates, Student Issues & More
ABVP soon takes the lead
ABVP’s Yash Dabas took an early lead for the post of Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) president, closely followed by NSUI’s Vijay Shankar Meena, as the counting of votes began on Saturday morning at the university’s North campus.
After the first round of counting that reached 3,270 votes, Dabas secured 1,305 votes while Meena trailed with 1,191. Ananya Raturi, the Left Alliance (AISA-SFI) candidate, got 288 votes.
The second round of counting is currently underway.
Key campaign issues
The closely watched elections will be decided by the DUSU Central Panel for the 2026-27 academic session.
The RSS-affiliated ABVP, the Congress-backed NSUI and the Left Alliance are vying for dominance in one of India’s most prominent student union contests.
This year’s campaign has been heavily influenced by pressing concerns about student welfare, especially campus security and hostel accommodation. These issues received urgent attention following the collapse of a five-storey PG building at Satya Niketan earlier this month, which claimed seven lives, including students.
The election also follows major student agitations in June and July over exam reforms and the NEET paper leak, spearheaded by groups such as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Read also | DU hostel crisis is back in limelight after 6 people died in Satya Niketan PG collapse
Massive security measures
To ensure order during the counting process, more than 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in a multi-layered security network at Delhi University.
Authorities work closely with school management to manage entry and exit points with the support of foot patrols, motorcycle teams and PCR vans.
The traffic restrictions mentioned in the previous university advisory will remain strictly in force till the declaration of final results.
