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The Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections for 2025 are underway, and the race is tight. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), backed by the Congress, is vying to retain its position, while the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), aims for a comeback. Traditionally, the competition in Delhi University has been fierce between NSUI and ABVP.
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) is a student organization established in India in 1949. Aryan Maan, an ABVP candidate, is currently leading the race for the DUSU president post. Maan comes from a prominent business background. The 23-year-old hails from Bahadurgarh, Haryana. He is also a national-level football player, having secured admission to Delhi University through the sports quota. He completed his B.Com from Hansraj College in 2025. His father, Sikandar Maan, is the Executive Director of ADS Group in Beri, and the family owns the Royal Green liquor brand.
This article examines ABVP’s history in campus politics and its sustained influence on DUSU elections.
The ABVP, founded in 1949, was initiated by RSS activist Balraj Madhok. The organization emerged after India gained independence, when a movement arose on college and university campuses to modernize and develop the country. A national forum was formalized and registered as the ABVP on July 9, 1949. ABVP’s goal was to rebuild India into a powerful, prosperous, and proud nation, organizing diverse activities as a nationwide student organization across various social levels.
In 1971, ABVP stated that students are not only partners in the educational world but also responsible citizens. ABVP aimed to recognize student power as national power. By 1974, ABVP had 160,000 members across 790 campuses and controlled several major universities. By 1983, its membership grew to 250,000 with 1,100 branches. The organization gained further support in the 1990s after the Babri Masjid demolition and economic reforms. The DUSU, established in 1949, is the world’s largest student body and holds elections by direct voting from students across faculties and affiliated colleges. The DUSU has four office bearers: President, Vice President, Secretary and Joint–Secretary. As of 2019, there are total of 52 Delhi University colleges and faculties affiliated to DUSU.
ABVP has generally maintained a stronghold over DUSU since 1954. During the 1970s–80s, it was the main student organization. NSUI emerged and won the DUSU elections for the first time in 1985. The battle has mainly been between NSUI and ABVP. ABVP returned to power in 1996. NSUI then dominated until 2008, when ABVP returned with Nupur Sharma as President. While an independent candidate won in 2009, ABVP returned to power in 2010. NSUI held power from 2011-2013. ABVP claimed the DUSU president post for five years until 2017. NSUI won in 2017, followed by ABVP winning in 2018 and continuing until 2024. Currently, Ronak Khatri of NSUI is DUSU President. ABVP has 17 wins so far, while NSUI has 12 victories.
