The campus halls and corridors of Delhi University have begun to hum with a familiar but charged energy—the kind that arrives only with student elections. The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) polls are approaching, and preparations by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have shifted into full gear. This year, however, there is something more than routine enthusiasm. Around the university, students are speaking of an atmosphere that feels positive, energetic, and unusually optimistic. The ABVP is fielding a full panel of candidates: Yash Dabas for President, Ishu Maurya for Vice President, Riya Chhabri for Secretary, and Lakshyaraj Singh for Joint Secretary. For those casting their votes for the entire ABVP slate, the sequence on the ballot is simple and memorable—7-3-3-3. Already, the campaign is not just about posters, slogans, or rallies, but about something deeper: a direct connection with the student body. ABVP workers and candidates are moving from college to college, engaging students in conversations about their lives on campus, their academic struggles, the safety and facilities they expect, and their aspirations beyond the classroom. This is not a distant, top-down campaign; it is one rooted in presence, listening, and a willingness to take student concerns seriously.
The heart of the ABVP campaign lies in this personal approach. The candidates are not merely visible in photographs or press releases; they are standing in canteens, walking through libraries, stopping at departmental common rooms, and meeting students where they study, rest, and socialize. Every conversation is an opportunity to understand what life is really like on a campus as large and diverse as Delhi University. Students are discussing everything from examination reforms and hostel conditions to the rising costs of daily life and the need for better mental health support. ABVP workers are doing more than distributing pamphlets—they are listening. They are collecting these concerns, turning them into a shared agenda that reflects the realities of students rather than the wishes of any political office. This kind of engagement is not glamorous, but it matters. It tells students that their voices are being heard long before the election day arrives. The strong visible support for ABVP candidates can be seen in the spontaneous crowds that gather whenever they speak, in the questions students ask, and in the growing number of young men and women who are joining the campaign as volunteers. There is an authenticity to the momentum that cannot be manufactured. It comes from being present, from showing up repeatedly, and from demonstrating that the organization is not asking for votes only once every few months but has been working on campus issues consistently, season after season, issue after issue.
While ABVP is focusing its energy on direct interaction and ground-level engagement, the same cannot be said for the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India, NSUI. As the election draws closer, NSUI appears to be leaning more heavily on social media campaigns, catchy graphics, hashtags, and viral moments rather than genuine engagement with student concerns. In place of constructive dialogue on academic matters, hostel improvements, scholarships, or campus infrastructure, the NSUI campaign increasingly seems aimed at creating a buzz through allegations and controversy. More concerning are the reported internal conflicts and disagreements within NSUI, which raise serious questions about the union’s ability to coordinate, organize, and present a united vision. When an organization that seeks to represent the students cannot maintain harmony among its own leaders and workers, students naturally wonder whether it can handle the far greater responsibility of representing thousands of voices. Instead of resolving these internal issues, Congress and NSUI have been attempting to shift the narrative through political accusations and misleading campaigns. This approach might generate temporary attention online, but it does little to address the real problems that students face on a daily basis. The gap between what is claimed and what is actually happening on the ground is becoming difficult for students to ignore.
Perhaps the most glaring illustration of this disconnect involves the alleged incidents in which NSUI members are reported to have burned the Constitution and even their own organization’s flag. For an organization that frequently speaks of constitutional values and democratic principles, such actions expose a troubling contradiction. It is one thing to criticize an opponent or make a political statement; it is another to show disregard for the very document that guarantees rights and freedoms to every citizen, including the students NSUI hopes to represent. Incidents like these are not just symbolic missteps—they are glimpses into a deeper confusion within the organization. They reveal an entity that is more preoccupied with grabbing attention than with presenting a meaningful, credible agenda for Delhi University students. As the voting date approaches, NSUI seems increasingly drawn toward controversy for its own sake. The challenge of constructing a student-centered platform—one that offers clear solutions for better academic facilities, transparent administration, and a more inclusive campus environment—has been overshadowed by a cycle of accusations, distractions, and internal disputes. Meanwhile, students are left to wonder: where is the substance? Where is the plan? Where is the vision? These unanswered questions may prove costly in an election where young voters are more informed, more discerning, and more frustrated by performative politics than ever before.
ABVP Delhi State Secretary Shri Sarthak Sharma captured this sentiment with clarity and conviction. “The internal differences and disputes within NSUI clearly show that the organisation is struggling to maintain coordination even among its own people,” he said. “When an organisation cannot manage its own internal affairs, how can it effectively represent the concerns and aspirations of thousands of Delhi University students? Instead of addressing student issues, NSUI is choosing the easier path of allegations, misinformation and social media propaganda. ABVP, on the other hand, is continuously reaching out to students, listening to their concerns and working on issues that directly affect campus life. Students are closely watching the conduct of both organisations and will make their choice accordingly. The support for ABVP is growing across the university, and with the 7-3-3-3 voting sequence, the entire ABVP panel is moving confidently towards a decisive victory.” His words speak to a larger truth about student politics: the most enduring political movements are built not on viral moments but on trust. When a student organization takes the time to listen, to understand, and to act on behalf of the student community, that investment cannot be undone by a single social media post or a dramatic press conference. Students are not passive observers in this process. They are active participants who are watching, evaluating, and drawing their own conclusions. They know the difference between those who stand beside them in difficult moments and those who appear only when the cameras are rolling.
As election day nears, the mood around Delhi University reflects a growing belief that the time for meaningful change has arrived. The ABVP campaign, with its emphasis on direct dialogue and genuine concern, has managed to capture the imagination of students across colleges and departments. The positive atmosphere is not just the result of well-organized rallies or clever slogans; it is the product of a sustained, honest effort to be present in the daily life of the university. Students recognize the commitment of Yash Dabas, Ishu Maurya, Riya Chhabri, and Lakshyaraj Singh, and they see in them representatives who understand the challenges of student life because they have lived them. The journey to the ballot box has not been without its challenges, but the growing support for the ABVP panel suggests that the student community is ready to embrace a leadership that prioritizes their concerns over partisan theatrics. With the 7-3-3-3 voting sequence serving as a clear and simple guide for supporters, the entire ABVP team is advancing with confidence and unity. The outcome, ultimately, rests in the hands of the students. If the energy on the campus is any indication, the upcoming DUSU elections may well mark a defining moment—one in which students choose honesty over noise, substance over spectacle, and service over self-interest. The road ahead is bright, and the hope is that the new student leadership will carry forward the spirit of the campaign well beyond the election, creating a campus culture that is just, inclusive, and truly student-centered.