- By Akansha Pandey
- Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:47 AM (IST)
- Source:Jagran News Network
Aryan Mann of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has been elected president of the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) in a landslide victory. Despite early expectations favoring NSUI's Joslyn Choudhary, a powerful combination of a viral online campaign and strategic ground-level efforts in the final days secured the win for Mann and helped the ABVP capture three of the four central panel seats.
A Modern Campaign For Gen-Z
A key factor in Mann's success was a modern campaign that resonated with the university's digitally-native student body. A song performed for him by popular Haryanvi singer Masoom Sharma became a viral hit on Instagram and Facebook. This, combined with support from Bollywood artists and an active internet media team creating Reels and AI-animated videos, helped him connect with young voters.
Campaigning was not limited to the digital world. With printed pamphlets banned this year, the ABVP adopted creative methods, such as writing slogans on tree leaves and distributing 20,000 handwritten pamphlets. This novel approach sent a positive message and showcased the dedication of their workers.
Focus On Tangible Student Issues
Throughout the year, the ABVP focused on resolving key student issues, which paid significant dividends. Their successful efforts included:
U-Special Buses: Following repeated requests from the ABVP, the Delhi government launched 25 new 'U-Special' buses, which impressed students from remote areas, especially women.
Centralised Hostel System: A 16-day strike led by the organization resulted in a simplified, single-form hostel application process, reducing hassle for newly admitted students.
Concessional Metro Passes: An announcement by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta regarding the introduction of concessional metro passes was also seen as a positive development influenced by student activism.
A Resounding Victory And Team Effort
The scale of Aryan Mann's win was historic. During the 21 rounds of vote counting, NSUI candidate Joclyn Choudhary failed to lead in a single round. By the eighth round, Mann had already established a lead of over 5,000 votes, making his victory clear early on.
The strong presidential campaign also boosted other ABVP candidates. Deepika Jha, who won the post of Joint Secretary, saw her weakening campaign revitalized after joining forces with Mann. Kunal Choudhary also worked tirelessly with activists to secure his win. The organisation's motivation was reportedly fueled by a desire to reclaim the presidency after losing it last year.
ABVP's Dominance In the DUSU Presidency
This victory continues the ABVP's significant influence over the DUSU presidency in the last decade.
Year Name Organisation
2013–14: Aman Awana - ABVP
2014–15: Mohit Nagar - ABVP
2015–16: SatenderAwana - ABVP
2016–17: Amit Tanwar - ABVP
2017–18: Rocky Tuseed - NSUI
2018–19: Ankiv Baisoya - ABVP
2018–19: Shakti Singh - ABVP
2019–23: Akshit Dahiya - ABVP
2023–24: Tushar Dedha - ABVP
2024–25: Ronak Khatri - NSUI