DUSU polls 2025 - A muted victory dance at Delhi University

The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election results, announced on Friday, painted a vibrant yet unusually restrained picture on campus. Gone were the days of chaotic carnivals, with posters soaring through the air and streets echoing with triumphant roars. This year, the celebrations were a quieter affair, tempered by heavy police presence and a stern Delhi High Court order curbing disruptive festivities.

As the results rolled in, the campus buzzed with controlled excitement. Rose petals rained down on winning candidates, and the rhythmic beats of dhols filled the air as students garlanded their leaders with flowers. But the energy, though palpable, was carefully measured. Slogans were raised, cheers erupted, but the roads remained clean, and the usual post-poll pandemonium was conspicuously absent.

The Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), affiliated with the RSS, emerged as the dominant force, clinching three of the four central panel posts in a high-octane campaign. Aryan Maan stormed to victory as president, defeating the National Students’ Union of India’s (NSUI) Joslyn Nandita Choudhary by a whopping 16,196 votes. ABVP’s Kunal Chaudhary and Deepika Jha also secured the secretary and joint secretary posts, polling 23,779 and 21,825 votes, respectively, leaving NSUI’s candidates trailing. The NSUI, however, salvaged some pride with Rahul Jhansla’s win as vice president, garnering 29,339 votes to outshine ABVP’s Govind Tanwar.

The Left-leaning alliance of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students’ Association (AISA) failed to make a mark, drawing a blank in the results.

This year’s restraint was no accident. A heavy police deployment blanketed the campus, with officers stationed at every corner to enforce order. The Delhi High Court, in a directive issued on Wednesday by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, had made it clear: while the elections could proceed, any violation of regulations would invite severe consequences, including potentially halting the functioning of DUSU office-bearers. The court tasked Delhi Police, DU officials, and the civil administration with ensuring a smooth and disciplined process, free of untoward incidents.

The impact was evident. “The celebrations will take place at home and in the office. We will not go for a victory march and will follow all court orders,” said an ABVP worker, reflecting the group’s commitment to compliance. Harsh Attri, ABVP’s national media convener, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Our real celebration is our work. We respect the high court’s guidelines and will celebrate within them.”

Students, too, felt the shift. Mridul Sharma, a student at Motilal Nehru College, observed, “Unlike previous years, the roads are quiet. The campus is largely vacant, with only a few small gatherings lighting up the place. We’ve been told to stick to the court’s rules.” Indeed, the absence of sprawling victory marches and littered streets marked a stark departure from the raucous celebrations of yesteryears.

The subdued mood didn’t dampen the winners’ spirits entirely. ABVP’s triumphant candidates were greeted with fervor, their supporters chanting slogans and drumming up excitement in controlled bursts. Yet, the campus remained orderly, with students mindful of the watchful eyes of law enforcement and the weight of judicial oversight.

As Delhi University settles into this new era of disciplined democracy, the 2025 DUSU polls will be remembered not just for ABVP’s commanding performance but for the quiet restraint that defined its aftermath. For now, the campus is calm, but the energy of student politics continues to simmer, waiting for the next chapter to unfold.