Independent candidate elected vice-president of Delhi University student body

Deepanshu Shaukin has emerged victorious in the 2026 Delhi University Students' Union elections, clinching the vice-president position as an independent candidate. The win marks a significant achievement in the student body's electoral process, with Shaukin accumulating 30,615 votes in the final tally.

Shaukin, whose father works as a bus conductor with the Delhi Transport Corporation, has been active in student politics for several years. Initially affiliated with the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), he transitioned to independent candidacy after being denied a party ticket for the election.

During his campaign and political activism, Shaukin has focused on student-related issues, conducting a barefoot campaign to highlight his commitment to grassroots engagement with the university community. His barefoot demonstrations were intended to draw attention to pressing concerns affecting Delhi University students.

The independent victory in the vice-president race underscores the competitive nature of university student union elections in India, where candidates frequently challenge the dominance of established student wings of national political parties. Shaukin's success demonstrates that campus-based mobilization around local issues can resonate with voters independent of formal party structures.