New Delhi
oi-PTI
Polling for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections began on Friday, with students voting for the four central panel posts and college representatives in a closely watched contest involving the ABVP, NSUI and the AISA-SFI alliance.
Voting for students attending day classes will continue until 1 pm, while polling in evening colleges will be held from 3 pm to 7:30 pm, officials said. A total of 1,000 electronic voting machines (EVMs) have been deployed for the elections. Of these, 960 will be used for polling, while 40 have been kept in reserve, according to university officials.
Polling for the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections occurred Friday, contested by ABVP, NSUI, and AISA-SFI for four central panel posts using 1,000 EVMs; vote counting is scheduled Saturday at the North Campus Sports Stadium amid tight security and traffic restrictions.
Chief Election Officer Raj Kishore Sharma said 12 control rooms would remain operational during polling and technical experts would be available to address any malfunction. “Once polling concludes, the EVMs will be securely transported by police to the Multipurpose Hall of the University Sports Stadium in North Campus.
The machines will be opened at the time of counting on Saturday,” Sharma said. Vote counting is scheduled for Saturday. Student welfare, campus facilities, hostel accommodation and safety have emerged as key issues in the DUSU election campaign, particularly following the collapse of a five-storey PG building in Satya Niketan earlier this month, which claimed the lives of seven people, including students.
The university has restricted vehicular movement on key stretches, including Chhatra Marg, Probyn Road and University Road, due to the election process. The restrictions will remain in force on Friday and Saturday until the results are declared, according to a university advisory.
Security was tightened across Delhi University on Friday as polling for the DU Students’ Union (DUSU) elections got underway, with more than 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel deployed across the North and South campuses, an official said.
A senior police officer said security arrangements had been put in place around all colleges and other important locations to ensure peaceful polling and maintain law and order. Police personnel have been deployed at strategic locations, while foot patrols, motorcycle teams and PCR vans are maintaining a visible presence around the campuses, he said. Paramilitary personnel have also been deployed at strategic locations as part of the multi-layered security arrangements.
Security has been heightened around polling centres to regulate movement, prevent overcrowding and check unauthorised gatherings and clashes, the officer said. Police teams are keeping a close watch on sensitive and vulnerable points, particularly areas expected to witness heavy movement of students and supporters during polling.
The university has also restricted vehicular movement on key stretches, including Chhatra Marg, Probyn Road and University Road. The restrictions will remain in place on Friday and Saturday until the declaration of results. Police are coordinating with university authorities and college administrations on entry and exit points, student movement and other logistical arrangements for polling and counting. The election is witnessing a contest among major student organisations, including the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and the AISA-SFI Left alliance.
In the 2025 elections, ABVP won three of the four central panel posts, including the president’s post, while NSUI secured the vice-president’s position. Counting of votes will be held on Saturday at the Multipurpose Hall of the University Sports Stadium in North Campus. Police personnel will remain deployed during the counting process to ensure that the declaration of results takes place peacefully, the officer said.
