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DU students held a follow-up infrastructure-safety protest at the VC lawns on 11th May, which was reportedly stopped by the Delhi Police during a VIP lockdown.

Students of the University of Delhi staged a protest on the Vice Chancellor’s lawns on 11th May over concerns about campus infrastructure and student safety. According to photos and videos shared with the editorial team, around 15 students participated in the demonstration led by NSUI member Gopal Choudhary.

Protesters were seen sitting outside the VC lawns wearing construction helmets and holding placards carrying slogans such as “DU matlab, DANGER UNIVERSITY!” (“DU means Danger University”) and “VC Sir, Responsibility bhi aapki hai, sirf circular nahi” (“VC Sir, responsibility is also yours, not just issuing circulars.”) Other placards read “padhne aaye they, jaan jokhim mein daalne nahi” (“We came here to study, not to risk our lives”).

Unlike the earlier protest held at the Faculty of Arts, the 11th May demonstration took place directly outside the Vice Chancellor’s premises and involved a smaller group of protesters attempting to raise their concerns before the university administration. Videos from the site showed police personnel speaking to the protesters and questioning whether permission had been taken for the demonstration and whether the police had been informed beforehand.

According to students present at the protest, they were unaware that a VIP movement was expected at the VC lawns and believed that holding demonstrations within the campus premises was permitted, citing previous instances of student protests within the university. 

In a video posted online following the protest, Gopal Choudhary stated that students had already given the Delhi University administration an ultimatum of 21 days regarding their demands and described the demonstration as part of continued efforts to show that the protesters were serious about the issue. Students involved in the protests have been demanding structural safety inspections, repair work in unsafe buildings, and greater administrative accountability concerning campus maintenance and student safety.

The demonstrations were organised in the backdrop of a recent incident reported at the Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, where the false ceiling of a laboratory allegedly collapsed during an MSc practical examination on 4 May 2026, injuring students present inside the room. Following the earlier protests, the Delhi University administration has reportedly instructed colleges and departments to conduct structural and electrical safety inspections across campuses

Image Source: Gopal Choudhary

Read Also: Protest Leader Gopal Choudhary Gives DU Administration 21-Day Ultimatum Over Campus Safety Concerns

Suansh Dembla

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Raising concerns regarding repeated infrastructure-related incidents across campuses, students of the University of Delhi organised a protest at the Faculty of Arts. 

Students of the University of Delhi staged a protest at the Faculty of Arts earlier this week over alleged negligence regarding campus infrastructure and student safety. NSUI member Gopal Choudhary reportedly led the demonstration. Students raised concerns over a series of infrastructure-related incidents reported across various colleges and departments under the university.

Demonstrators demanded immediate structural safety audits of university buildings, urgent repair work in deteriorating facilities, and greater administrative accountability regarding campus safety measures.

Following the protests and growing concerns regarding campus infrastructure, the Delhi University administration has now reportedly instructed colleges and departments to conduct proper structural and electrical safety inspections across campuses. However, there is no official statement from the University administration regarding this decision.

Among the demands raised during the protest was the provision of life insurance and compensation support for students injured in infrastructure failures within university premises. Protesters also called upon the administration to publicly address recent incidents and implement preventive measures to avoid similar occurrences in the future.

In an interview with the Editorial Team of DU Beat, Gopal mentioned,

We have given the administration of DU an ultimatum of 21 days. During this time, we want them to conduct thorough inspection of all DU colleges and suspend classes as well as exams in campuses with poor infrastructure. Otherwise we will again stage a hunger strike until stricter actions are taken. We are also planning to file a RTI in 1-2 days time for how the annual budget is spent in every college. When we approached the administration of DU, they pointed us towards the individual colleges. And the admin in the colleges pointed us back to the VC. There is no end to this cycle and both of them are equally responsible. At the end they’ll have to work together if change is desired. 

Other than that, we are protesting for water coolers and ORS facilities in every classroom during the exam season in light of the prevalent heatwave. In addition to this, the 66.67% attendance criteria is also problematic. I will be attending a meeting on Monday with the administration to address these concerns.” 

Slogans such as “DU Campus or Danger Zone” and “Have we come here to study or die?” were seen on placards and raised during the demonstration, reflecting concerns among students regarding safety conditions on campus.

The protest follows a recent incident reported at the Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, on 4 May 2026 during an ongoing MSc practical examination. According to statements circulated online, the false ceiling of Lab Room No. 26 allegedly collapsed between 3:45 and 4:00 PM, along with a projector and nearby panels, while students were writing their examination.

One student reportedly sustained a severe head injury requiring several stitches and was taken to a nearby hospital in Civil Lines. Another student allegedly suffered minor shoulder injuries. The incident prompted renewed discussion among students regarding the structural condition of university buildings and the response mechanisms available during emergencies.

Visuals from the protest showed students assembled with placards and banners outside the Faculty of Arts premises, with slogans reportedly focusing on student safety and institutional accountability. Protesters alleged that multiple warnings and complaints regarding infrastructure conditions had previously been raised across colleges.

 

Image Source: Instagram gopal_choudharynsui

Read Also: Delhi University student petitions High Court for separate vegetarian mess facilities

 

Suansh Dembla

[email protected]

A protest linked to NSUI disrupted a book launch at the University of Delhi over DD News editor Ashok Srivastava’s past remarks on Rahul Gandhi, leading security personnel to evacuate protesting students.

On Thursday, 7th May, students from the NSUI (National Student’s Union of India) allegedly staged a protest during an event. The event was scheduled as the launch of the book, ‘Decolonizing the Bharatiya Minds: From Colonial Roots to Cultural Marxism’, at the Shankar Lal Auditorium of the University of Delhi. The event was attended by keynote speaker Mr. Ramlal, Akhil Bharatiya Sampark Pramukh of the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh); chief guest Mr. Ashok Srivastava, Consulting Editor at DD News; and the book’s author, Dr. Prashant Barthwal.

Poster for the launch of the book ‘Decolonizing the Bharatiya Minds: From Colonial Roots to Cultural Marxism’ at the University of Delhi on 7 May 2026.
Poster via Gargi Care Foundation Instagram
for the DU launch of Decolonizing the Bharatiya Minds.

The event was organized by INSIGHT and Gargi Care Foundation in collaboration with the University of Delhi. The protests were triggered by the past remarks of the DD News anchor, Ashok Srivastava, against Rahul Gandhi. As covered by PTI, the remarks included that Rahul Gandhi is “not even equal to the dust under Veer Savarkar’s slippers,” which is most likely linked to the protest. Ashok Srivastava was allegedly heard saying this during a TV debate.

This remark has already triggered protests outside the DD News office by Youth Congress and NSUI workers in April. The protest saw slogans of “Ashok Srivastava Haye Haye” (Ashok Srivastav Shame Shame!), “Ashok Srivastav Murdabad” (Down with Ashok Srivastav), and “Godi Media Go Back.” One of the protesters included Rahul Jhansla, the vice president of the Delhi University Student’s Union and an NSUI supporter.

As the atmosphere grew charged, the security officers stepped in, and the protesting students were evacuated from the auditorium.

Read More: Hansraj College suspension row: Parth Srivastava moves to Delhi High Court alleging selective targeting after 29/30 suspensions revoked

Image Credits- Instagram Page of indiafrontwire_


Divyanshi Dusad

[email protected]

On the night of November 6th, election results were released, cementing Left’s dominance in JNU student politics as the alliance Left Unity swept the central panel. Unlike last time, AVBP was unable to get a hold of a seat in the central panel and especially in the councillor seat of School of International Studies (SIS) or School of Social Sciences (SSS) which it has previously won. 

On November 4th, elections for the new Jawaharlal Nehru University’s student union (JNUSU) was held. Many student unions formed panels to fight in the elections, namely the RSS backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (AVBP), Indian National Congress Student Wing National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) and an alliance of All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Students Federation (DSF) named Left Unity. Many smaller organisations and independent candidates also stood in the elections.

The counting began on the night of the 4th November and finished on 6th November night. A total of 5,802 votes were casted of the 9,043, 64% voter turnout. The alliance Left Unity swept all the central posts. For the president position, Aditi Mishra got 1,977 votes, around 33% of the votes, beating the AVBP backed candidate, Vikas Patel by 449 votes. The vice president Kizhakoot Gopika Babu won a staggering 3,101 votes, more than half of the total votes. For the general secretary Sunil Yadav secured 2,005 votes and Danish Ali secured 2,083 votes for the joint-general secretary. 

AVBP which had won seats in the last election, was unable to make a comeback in the central panel neither in many of the councillor seats especially SIS or SSS which they had previously won. Asking a JNU student as to why this was the case, they opined that it was due to an increase of violence. They recalled that the SSS general body meeting (GBM) had turned ugly when people started fighting, using abusive and casteist slurs against each other. It turned violent when elected councillor candidates and the JNUSU President were attacked. Another factor that they said was when a FIR was lodged against the students who went to report the above mentioned incident. Due to these incidents the alliance Left Unity was able to consolidate its hold.

The votes being divided in the last election due to two different left alliances was, for many, a major reason as to why ABVP was able to consolidate a seat in the central panel. This time however left organisations were able to come together and form a single alliance. Critics have, however, pointed out that the alliance has sidelined many smaller organisations and accused them for slacking on student issues. 

The results have cemented the Left Unity’s dominance in the university’s student politics and has marked a change in its strategy to organise, marking a significant shift from the previous election.

 

Read More: DU Cancels a Seminar from DSE’s Longest-Running Colloquiums, Convenor Resigns

Image Credits: Times of India

Reva Rawat
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DUSU elections saw 39.36 per cent turnout, up from last year but below 2023 levels. Voting was peaceful yet marred by littering, clashes, traffic, and EVM tampering allegations amid tight security and 21 candidates contesting.

The voter turnout for this year’s Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) election stood at 39.36 per cent, a decent rise from last year’s turnout, which stood at 35.2 per cent, but it still does not meet the rate of 42 per cent, which was recorded in 2023. This was amidst a 3-year halt in the conduction of elections due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Polling was conducted at 52 centres with 195 booths, where 711 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were deployed.

Chief Election Officer Raj Kishore Sharma said polling proceeded smoothly across most colleges.

Out of the 1.53 lakh registered voters, 60,272 students cast their votes. At Kirori Mal College, the turnout was 32 per cent.  Principal Dinesh Khattar said,

The college has successfully conducted polling, and the campus is clean… no defacement or waste lying around.

At Ramjas College, the turnout was slightly higher but still lower than the average at 37.52%. Principal Ajay Arora stated that,

Voting has been successfully held at seven booths.

Miranda House saw an active participation of over 2500 votes in the first phase. Polling in the college was conducted in two phases: from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm for day scholars and from 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Delhi Police deployed over 600 personnel, including 160 with body-worn cameras, while drones and CCTV surveillance covered sensitive areas.

The election was conducted not without its hurdles; the area surrounding the campuses saw littering due to cards of candidates being distributed. Despite tight police control, clashes still occurred between rivals, and supporters of each faction gathered in huge numbers, resulting in road blockages and significant traffic congestion. 

The elections also witnessed controversies due to allegations of malpractice by the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI)’s presidential candidate, Joslyn Nandita Choudhary, alleging that she observed blue ink on the EVMs near the name of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)’s presidential candidate, Aryan Maan.

Delhi ABVP State Secretary Sarthak Sharma responded by stating,

Just as the Congress blames EVMs after every electoral loss, NSUI is following the same pattern. Their desperation is evident from their fear of defeat and declining popularity among students.

This year, 21 candidates were contesting for the four main student body posts – President, Vice President, Secretary, and Joint Secretary. Of these, nine contestants were competing for the president’s seat, while the remaining were contesting for the other three positions.

Read Also: What Does the Student Body Want? 

Image Credits-: Sameer for DU Beat 

Divyanshi Dusad 

[email protected]

Congress leader Sachin Pilot campaigns at Delhi University on behalf of NSUI ahead of DUSU 2025 polls, backing Joslyn Nandita Choudhary and team as students debate for change against the ABVP dominance.

 

Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot on Monday visited Delhi University’s North Campus, meeting students and expressing confidence that the National Students’ Union of India, or NSUI will sweep the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

During his visit, Pilot, joined by the NSUI National President Varun Choudhary, and Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav, interacted with students at Miranda House, Campus Law Centre, and Hindu College. Outside Hindu College, tensions briefly flared when supporters of the NSUI and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) came face-to-face, shouting slogans before security personnel intervened to restore order.

Pilot said, 

Delhi University is one of the most important universities of our country. All four NSUI candidates will surely win with the support and trust of students,” 

He asserted that students were eager for change, citing the growing discontent with both the Union and State Governments. “The students believe in our ideology and vision, which will be reflected in the results,” he added.

The visit was part of a larger outreach programme by NSUI to highlight student-centric issues such as campus facilities, hostels, and academic reforms. According to an official statement, the campaign is aimed at mobilising support across colleges and presenting a credible alternative to the ABVP, which has traditionally dominated student politics at DU.

This year’s NSUI panel features Joslyn Nandita Choudhary, a 23-year-old postgraduate student of Buddhist Studies, as the Presidential candidate. Choudhary is the first woman in 17 years to contest for the top post. The panel also includes Rahul Jhansla for vice president, Kabir for secretary, and Lav Kush Badhana for joint secretary. Party leaders described the line-up as a “blend of fresh faces and representative voices.”

The DUSU polls for the 2025–26 academic session are scheduled for September 18, with counting to be held the next day. The elections are seen as a key barometer of student sentiment and often carry symbolic weight in national politics.

In last year’s elections, the NSUI staged a notable comeback after a seven-year gap, winning the President and Joint Secretary posts. The ABVP, affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, managed to secure the vice president’s position and retained the secretary’s post. The contest this year is expected to be closely fought, with both outfits banking on strong mobilisation drives across the campus.

As the campaign heats up, Delhi University once again finds itself at the centre of high-energy student politics, with national parties keenly watching the outcome.

Read Also – Campus Promises: ABVP, NSUI, and SFI–AISA Manifestos 2025

 

Featured Image Source – Free Press Journal

 

Richa Choudhary

[email protected]

 

With the Delhi University Students’ Union elections approaching, major student organisations have released their manifestos announcing promises, reflecting issues, and revealing both overlaps and contrasts in priorities.

There are significant variances as well as obvious parallels between the ABVP, NSUI, and SFI-AISA coalition manifestos. The goals of these three parties are to solve persistent problems in Delhi University politics, such as women’s safety, campus infrastructure, and affordability. However, each uniquely presents its strategy, answering critiques of earlier DUSU terms and reflecting its ideological foundations.

Student health and welfare have been foregrounded more strongly this year. ABVP explicitly promised, “subsidised health insurance schemes for students”, a measure that responds to recurring demands for affordable healthcare after years of rising living costs. NSUI brought the conversation into the gendered domain, with its women’s manifesto pledging, “helpline numbers, menstrual health awareness, sanitary pad vending machines, and proper gender sensitivity measures.” The SFI-AISA alliance combined health and gender justice, promising menstrual leave and insisting on institutional structures like, “elected Internal Complaints Committees and gender sensitisation cells in all colleges”.

The only organisation to make a specific commitment on digital access is ABVP, which has pledged “free Wi-Fi access for university students.” Although the Left alliance and NSUI did not use the same language to emphasise Wi-Fi, they both emphasised infrastructure and accessibility in more general terms, implying a move away from band-aid technological solutions and towards structural reforms.

The affordability debate remains central, carrying forward unresolved issues from past years, such as fee hikes and opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP). The SFI-AISA alliance has taken the clearest stance, stating that it has, “pledged to oppose fee hikes” and presenting its programme as ‘a true student-centric manifesto.’ NSUI echoed this with calls for, “public funding for equitable education” and a rejection of NEP-linked restructuring. ABVP, while not quoted as directly opposing fee hikes, emphasised subsidised schemes and improved facilities.

Women’s safety and inclusion, an issue repeatedly raised after incidents on campus in previous years, has again appeared prominently. NSUI’s separate women’s manifesto is notable in its detail, listing concrete measures like, “helpline numbers, menstrual health awareness, sanitary pad vending machines, and proper gender sensitivity measures.” The SFI-AISA alliance, in line with its activist tradition, focused on structural reform: “elected Internal Complaints Committees and gender sensitisation cells in all colleges.” ABVP’s framing was broader, with its candidate speeches highlighting campus safety and “accessibility audits for students with special needs.”

Finally, housing and hostels continue to be a major theme, reflecting perennial shortages and past protests by outstation students. ABVP’s manifesto directly included, “construction of new hostels to accommodate growing student needs.” NSUI’s broader call for inclusive infrastructure implicitly covered hostel provisions, while SFI-AISA explicitly folded hostel expansion into its demands for resisting privatisation. 

While all parties echo recurring demands like safety, hostels, and digital access, their manifestos also respond to past gaps, some promising continuity, others pledging fresh reforms to long-standing student concerns.

 

Image Credits: Manan for DU Beat

Anjali Kumari Jha
[email protected]

Read Also: ASAP, The New Student Wing of AAP, Refrains from Contesting DUSU Polls Days Before the Election

In a troubling incident the night of August 18, a group of around 20–25 unidentified individuals forcefully entered the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) office. They broke open the main gate, attacked security staff, smashed glass doors, overturned chairs, damaged tables, and even destroyed an air conditioner, according to Delhi University officials. Campus authorities have confirmed that police are investigating the case, and the vandalised office has been sealed for now.

A day later, the Congress-affiliated National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) condemned the act, calling it “cowardly” and blaming the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). NSUI national president Varun Choudhary alleged that ABVP had a long history of campus violence and creating unsafe spaces, particularly for women students. He described the vandalism as a “clear display of ABVP’s frustration.”

ABVP, however, rejected the charges, accusing NSUI of staging the attack to gain attention ahead of polls. In its statement, the student wing said,

Groups that are unable to work on the ground or connect with students resort to propaganda.

ABVP further alleged that the vandalism was a “media stunt” designed to tarnish its image.

Choudhary, meanwhile, said NSUI would continue to campaign on issues of affordable education, timely scholarships, social justice, and women’s safety under the banner of “Mohabbat Ki Dukan.” 

This is not the first time student politics at Delhi University has seen such flashpoints. From the defacement of DUSU offices in past years to violent clashes during presidential campaigns, incidents of hostility have increasingly overshadowed the democratic spirit of campus elections. In 2023, the election season was marked by allegations of physical intimidation and misuse of money power. Many students now argue that the real issues — ranging from affordable housing and better transport to the lack of hostels and deteriorating infrastructure — rarely find space in these campaigns. Instead, the narrative is often dominated by national party rivalries that play out on campus grounds.

All this paints a clear picture: DUSU politics have shifted from simply political debate to increasingly performative and destructive spectacles. Rather than fostering constructive dialogue, recent developments suggest that winning appears to have become more about leveraging force or acts of power.

Read Also: DU Cracks Down on Poster Politics Ahead of Election Season

Featured Image Credit: DU Beat

Juhi Bansal

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As the much-anticipated DUSU elections dawn upon Delhi University, the administration’s decision to impose a mandatory ₹1 Lakh bond on contesting candidates has triggered a storm of protest. What the administration portrays as a measure of accountability is being widely condemned as a deliberate financial barrier that strikes right at the heart of campus democracy. For decades, DUSU has stood as a microcosm of Indian democracy, producing leaders who went on to shape national politics. By attaching a steep financial cost to participation, the administration risks rewriting that history. 

The policy has ignited rare partnerships as long-time rival student organisations come together to protest. While major organisations like ABVP and NSUI have historically housed high-profile candidates and expensive campaigns, they, too, have accused the new policy of being undemocratic and regressive. NSUI President Varun Chaudhary termed it a ‘political weapon’ that works in favour of their adversary, ABVP. 

Leftist student organisations like the Student Federation of India (SFI) also demand the withdrawal of the bond, describing it as “a regressive move that is nothing short of an elitist barrier designed to exclude ordinary students from democratic participation and stifle genuine student voices”. SFI calls out the university for their “anti–common student nature”, and highlights the growing concern over the integrity of free and fair student politics in India.

The imposition of this bond also raises much larger questions, especially those that target the identity of the university itself. The protesters claim that while administrations often justify restrictions in the name of discipline, the cumulative effect is a systematic narrowing of democratic participation. In an institution renowned for its inclusivity, the bond seems like a gatekeeping tool and risks silencing those very voices the union is meant to represent. Rather than strengthening electoral integrity, the bond tethers participation to monetary capacity, shrinking democracy to those who can afford it. 

With the DUSU election process now officially announced for September, the ₹1 lakh bond feels like more than just a procedural rule. For many students, it seems like a statement of who is considered fit to participate in democracy and who is not. As the elections draw closer and the campaigns gather pace, the debate over the bond is likely to remain at the centre of campus politics.

Image Source: The Hindu 

Navya Chandok
[email protected]

Read Also: DU Cracks Down on Poster Politics Ahead of Election Season

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) launched a protest on 13th August at the Arts Faculty of Delhi University’s North Campus calling for 12 days of menstrual leave per semester for female students of DU. Using the slogan, ‘From Pain to Power,’ and imprinting nearby walls with red handprints, the protest gained traction from students across the DU circuit.

The demonstration, carrying out a signature campaign in furtherance of their advocacy, was held under police supervision.

“Every signature is a stand for dignity, equality, and the right of female students to rest without stigma,” NSUI had claimed via a post on their official Instagram account.

Varun Choudhary, the nationwide President of NSUI emphasised on menstrual leave as a basic right for every female student, stating that, We will continue the fight until Delhi University implements this rule, as this provision exists in many universities in India and abroad. NSUI has also fought for this in Panjab University,” he said.

According to the student outfit, menstrual health significantly influences female students’ academic outcomes, mental well-being, and active involvement in campus life. They emphasised that neglecting this concern often leaves students with the difficult choice of missing classes, or they get bound to endure considerable discomfort merely to satisfy attendance criteria, not excluding other curricular commitments that they have.

NSUI urged Delhi University to formulate policies that accommodate female students’ plight in order to make campus more inclusive and gender sensitive. The organisation vowed to continue their efforts to urge educational institutions to implement multi-stakeholder policies. 

Image Credits: NSUI Delhi via Instagram 

Divyanshi Dusad
[email protected]

Also Read: DUSU and Central Council Elections 2025-2026: Official Timeline Announced