The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has once again asserted its stronghold on Delhi University student politics, with its presidential candidate, Aryan Maan, securing a resounding victory in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections. Contesting from ballot number 3, Maan defeated his closest competitor, Joslyn Nandita Choudhary of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), re-establishing ABVP’s dominance after a one-year hiatus. The RSS-backed student organization also triumphed in the secretary and joint secretary posts.
Maan, a prominent figure in student movements, is a national-level football player and a state executive member of the ABVP. He is currently pursuing his studies in the Department of Library Science at Delhi University and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree from Hansraj College. Hailing from Bahadurgarh, Haryana, Maan’s campaign gained momentum with endorsements from Bollywood celebrities Sanjay Dutt and Randeep Hooda.
His campaign platform resonated with the student community, focusing on tangible issues such as providing subsidized metro passes, ensuring free Wi-Fi access across the campus, and conducting accessibility audits for students with special needs. He also pledged to improve sports facilities and nutrition for student athletes. “The ABVP’s capable leadership has always been trusted by students of Delhi University,” Maan stated during his campaign. “This year, we are determined to ensure adequate sports facilities and nutrition, campus accessibility audits for students with special needs, and free Wi-Fi access across DU. With these initiatives, we aim to establish Delhi University as a premier global institution.”
The DUSU elections, held on Thursday, saw a voter turnout of 39.45% across 195 booths at 52 centers. The previous year, NSUI’s Ronak Khatri had won the presidential post, breaking ABVP’s winning streak and marking the NSUI’s first presidential victory in seven years. However, with Aryan Maan’s decisive win, the ABVP has re-affirmed its long-standing influence over the student body of Delhi University.