With the DUSU elections of 2025 underway, the spotlight is on the close contest between the NSUI and ABVP. The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), supported by the Congress, seeks to maintain its position in the Delhi University Students’ Union, while the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), aims to reclaim its former dominance.
The full form of ABVP is Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, a student organization established in India in 1949.
Aryan Maan, an ABVP candidate, is currently leading the race for the DUSU president position. He comes from a well-known 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 the ABVP’s history in campus politics and its influence over the years.
The ABVP was established in 1949 by RSS activist Balraj Madhok. The organization arose during a time of national modernization. The ABVP’s goal was to transform India into a powerful, prosperous, and proud nation. With this aim, ABVP started organizing diverse activities nationwide, focusing on various social scales.
In 1971, ABVP emphasized that students are citizens of today, and not just the future. By 1974, ABVP had 160,000 members across 790 campuses. By 1983, its membership had grown to 250,000 with 1,100 branches. The organization gained more support in the 1990s. The DUSU, established in 1949, is the world’s largest student body. The first DUSU elections were held in 1954. Several prominent figures have built their political careers in DUSU.
The DUSU has four office bearers: President, Vice President, Secretary and Joint–Secretary. Elections to the union are held by direct voting by the students. As of 2019, there are total of 52 Delhi University colleges and faculties affiliated to DUSU.
ABVP has generally maintained a strong presence 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. 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.
