DUSU Elections 2026: ABVP unveils polls manifesto; focuses on students' housing, safety and academic reforms

NEW DELHI: The ABVP on Sunday released its manifesto for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections, promising measures on student accommodation, women's safety, academic reforms and career opportunities. Built around the four pillars of "A-Awas, B-Bhagidari, V-Vishwas and P-Parinaam", the manifesto also calls for greater student participation in university decision-making, the statement read.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) panel comprises candidates Yash Dabas for president, Ishu Maurya for vice president, Riya Chhawdi for secretary and Lakshya Raj Singh for joint secretary.

Safe and affordable accommodation has been listed as a key priority, with the RSS-backed organisation proposing new hostels, improved facilities for women students, a dedicated student accommodation cell and helpline, and safety audits of paying guest (PG) accommodations and hostels.

The proposals come in the backdrop of the recent Satya Niketan PG building collapse, which claimed seven lives and injured many others. The manifesto also seeks stricter implementation of fire safety norms and improvements in facilities such as cleanliness, drinking water and internet connectivity.

Also read Delhi University to add 5,544 hostel seats, total capacity to reach 12,754

DUSU Elections 2026

On women's safety, ABVP has promised stronger security patrols, pink booths, better lighting, adequate women security personnel, common rooms and sanitary napkin vending machines. It has also proposed strengthening grievance redressal mechanisms and Internal Complaints Committees.

Among its academic proposals are timely declaration of examination results, supplementary examinations, access to evaluated answer scripts, greater transparency in internal assessment and timely issuance of degrees. The manifesto also promises job fairs, partnerships with industry and research institutions, training and internship opportunities, and programmes on artificial intelligence and digital skills.

"We will continue to pursue the issue of safe student accommodation with determination," ABVP's presidential candidate Dabas said, appealing to students to vote for the entire panel.

ABVP Delhi state secretary Sarthak Sharma said the organisation was running an issue-based campaign and expressed confidence of a favourable mandate in the elections. The DUSU elections are scheduled to take place on September 18, with results expected the following day.