The Congress party is facing renewed scrutiny regarding its internal structure following a disappointing performance in the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections. Despite the party's efforts to connect with youth through Rahul Gandhi’s 'Chhatron ki Goonj' rallies, the student wing, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), failed to secure any of the four contested positions in the polls held on September 18.
The results, announced on Saturday, September 19, saw the Bharatiya Janata Party’s student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), retain the posts of president, secretary, and joint secretary. The vice president position was claimed by independent candidate Deepanshu Shokeen, who had previously sought an NSUI ticket but was denied.
The defeat is particularly significant as it occurred just before Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally at Indore’s Bharat Jodo Maidan. The loss comes at a time when the Congress and its opposition allies have been actively criticizing the BJP over national education policies. While the ABVP secured a 3-1 victory, the margins were notably tighter than in previous years since 2014, suggesting a degree of voter dissatisfaction with the incumbent student leadership.
Internal criticism within the Congress has focused on the party's candidate selection process. A national office-bearer of the NSUI told The Federal that the loss was largely due to poor decision-making by those responsible for choosing candidates. The official noted that both Deepanshu Shokeen, who won by a margin of over 13,000 votes, and secretary candidate Vishesh Yadav, who finished second, were former NSUI members who were compelled to run as rebels after being denied official party nominations to accommodate specific leadership preferences.
