Delhi University (DU) is all set for another bitter Students’ Union election on September 18, 2025. The two largest student bodies, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), have announced their panels for the 2025 elections, paving the way for a head-on confrontation.
ABVP, which holds the president’s seat at the moment, has put forward Aryan Maan as its candidate for president. Govind Tanvar will run for vice president, Kunal Choudhary for secretary and Deepika Jha for joint secretary. Marking a renewed push for female leadership on campus, two of the organisations have fielded women for the post of president for the September 18 Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.
The ABVP presidential candidate Aryan Maan, a Hansraj College graduate and avid football player, who has been a prominent voice in the fight against fee hikes and for better university infrastructure. He is joined by Vice President candidate Govind Tanwar, a Dyal Singh College alumnus with a long history of involvement in ABVP initiatives.
Kunal Choudhary, a former President of the PGDAV College Students’ Union and current Master’s student, running for Secretary and Deepika Jha, a graduate of Lakshmibai College, who has championed social causes through ABVP’s ‘Students for Seva’ initiative, vying for the Joint Secretary post. With three of the four candidates pursuing degrees in the Department of Buddhist Studies, the ABVP’s slate highlights a unique convergence of student leadership and academic focus.
On the other hand, National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), after 17 years has nominated a female candidate, Joslyn Nandita Choudhary, for the post of president, calling it a “historic move” since no woman has held the post since 2008. The NSUI has nominated Rahul Jhansla for the post of vice-president, Kabir for secretary and Lavkush Bhadana for joint secretary.
Joslyn Nandita Choudhary, a 23-year-old pursuing an MA in Buddhist Studies from Jodhpur, brings a history of championing women’s rights and campus safety, with her nomination being a landmark moment for female leadership. Alongside her, Rahul Jhansla, 24, also an MA student in Buddhist Studies, has been a central figure in student activism, advocating for critical campus improvements like sports infrastructure, hostel hygiene and clean drinking water, drawing significant support from the Purvanchal and Rajasthan communities.
The lineup is further strengthened by Kabir, a 24-year-old law student and accomplished cricketer from Delhi, whose campaign focuses on sports and holistic development and who enjoys broad-based support.
The youngest candidate, 19-year-old Luv Kush Badhana, a BA (Hons) student from Faridabad, has quickly risen as a prominent voice for the Gurjar community, notably highlighting the issue of BJP’s demolition drives in his village. Together, this diverse team aims to address a wide range of student issues with a focus on representation, safety and campus infrastructure.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and All India Students’ Association (AISA) fielded Anjali from Indraprastha College for Women as presidential candidate, Sohan Kumar as vice president, Abhinandana Pratyashi as secretary, and Abhishek Kumar as joint secretary. Anjali, who has from Bihar has been active in campus movements, including those related to women’s safety and hostel issues. Sohan Kumar, a student of MA Buddhist Studies from Zakir Hussain Delhi College will contest the polls for the vice-president’s position. Abhinandana Pratyashi, a third-year Sociology student at Hindu College and the first tribal woman candidate from the Northeast to contest DUSU polls will run for the secretary’s post, it added. Abhishek Kumar, hailing from Bihar’s Munger and currently studying in Delhi, will contest for the joint secretary position.
The SFI-AISA said the panel represents “an alternative voice” in DU politics against what it called “money and muscle power” in campus elections. The SFI is affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) while AISA is affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation.
The DUSU polls for the 2025-26 academic session will be held on September 18, with counting scheduled for the following day.
In the 2024 DUSU polls, NSUI made a comeback after a seven-year hiatus, winning two key positions — president and joint secretary. The ABVP secured the vice president post and retained the secretary position, maintaining its presence in the union.
