Independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen has won the vice-president’s post in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) election for 2026-27, defeating candidates backed by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).
Shokeen emerged as the highest vote-getter among the four newly elected office-bearers, polling 30,615 votes. Ishu Maurya finished behind him with 16,910 votes.
The victory came after Shokeen, who had earlier been associated with , decided to contest the election independently after being denied the organisation’s ticket.
Shokeen is a native of Peeragarhi village in west Delhi. He comes from a modest family background, with his father Rakesh Shokeen working as a Delhi Transport Corporation bus conductor and his mother as an Anganwadi teacher.
He has been involved in student politics since 2023, according to reports. His association with NSUI preceded his decision to contest the DUSU election as an independent.
His father said the decision to contest independently came after Shokeen was denied the NSUI ticket.
“We got to know that he was snubbed over the NSUI ticket on September 11. That is when he decided to fight independently,” his father Rakesh Shokeen told PTI.
Shokeen has criticised what he described as “the organisational shortcomings within NSUI” and questioned the process through which candidates were selected.
An NSUI functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity, described his independent candidature as a challenge to the organisation’s ticket distribution process.
“Denying him a ticket and him later fighting as an independent candidate turned into an open challenge to the organisation’s ticket distribution process,” an NSUI functionary said on condition of anonymity.
Student accommodation, university infrastructure and policies were among the issues highlighted by Shokeen during his campaign. He said his own experiences with these problems shaped his decision to contest the election.
“Whether it is the issue of hostel facility, university infrastructure or policies, I have faced all of them myself. This election was fought on all these student-centric issues,” he told PTI.
Shokeen also said his campaign was not solely about winning an electoral contest but about representing students and raising their concerns.
“Fighting the election was not my only motive; I was representing all the students and their issues. I am here to raise their voice,” he said.
Shokeen’s campaign attracted attention for its relatively low-key approach. He campaigned barefoot and focused on directly interacting with students rather than relying on a high-cost campaign.
Hostel and accommodation facilities were among the prominent issues he raised, particularly amid concerns over student housing in Delhi.
His independent victory secured one of the four central DUSU posts, while ABVP won the remaining three.
After the results were announced, Shokeen thanked Delhi University students in a post on X and said his victory represented students who wanted their concerns raised on campus.
“This victory isn’t mine. It belongs to every student who wants to raise real issues on campus. Fighting independently wasn’t easy, but you’ve proven that students’ trust rises above student organisations,” his post read.
He also said the victory had increased his responsibilities towards students.
“I will become the voice of every student. Revolution, comrades. Victory to Hind. Victory to Delhi University,” he further said.
