Meet Deepanshu Shokeen, the NSUI rebel who won DUSU Vice President post

Deepanshu Shokeen has won the Delhi University Students' Union vice-president election as an independent candidate. He defeated candidates from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the National Students' Union of India to emerge as one of the biggest names of DUSU 2026.

In Short

• Deepanshu Shokeen won DUSU vice-president seat as an independent with 30,615 votes
• He defeated ABVP’s Ishu Maurya by 13,705 votes and NSUI’s Virr Chatrath
• Shokeen left NSUI after being asked to withdraw nomination and contested independently

Deepanshu Shokeen has emerged as the new Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) vice-president after contesting the 2026 election as an independent candidate with 30,615 votes.

He defeated ABVP’s Ishu Maurya, who secured 16,910 votes, and NSUI’s Virr Chatrath, who received 4,313 votes. Shokeen won by a margin of 13,705 votes over Maurya, who finished second.

He emerged as the winner against candidates backed by major student organisations. Shokeen contested against Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's (ABVP) Ishu Maurya, National Students' Union of India's (NSUI) Vir Chatrath, AISA-SFI's Akshat Shikhar and independent candidate Aranya Singh Rathore.

For Shokeen, however, the road to the DUSU vice-president post began with a very different plan.

Live updates of DUSU election results 2026

WHO IS DEEPANSHU SHOKEEN?

A student of the Department of Buddhist Studies at the University of Delhi, Shokeen previously completed his graduation from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College. His journey in student politics gained momentum during his college years and eventually took him to the DUSU central panel.

Shokeen comes from Peeragarhi village in Delhi. His father is a bus conductor, while his mother works as an anganwadi worker. His family wanted him to prepare for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination, but Shokeen chose student politics instead.

His campaign also focused on student concerns, including safety and accommodation. His activism following the Satya Niketan tragedy further increased his visibility among students.

With his victory, Deepanshu Shokeen has moved from being an independent student leader to holding one of the four key posts in the DUSU central panel.

WHY DID DEEPANSHU SHOKEEN LEAVE NSUI?

Deepanshu Shokeen had initially sought a National Students' Union of India ticket for the DUSU election. His nomination was filed, but he was later asked to withdraw it.

Shokeen refused to step aside and instead decided to fight the election independently. That decision turned him from an organisation-backed aspirant into one of the most visible independent candidates in the DUSU contest.

His campaign gained momentum on campus, with his name becoming increasingly prominent during the election campaign.

WHAT DID DEEPANSHU SHOKEEN DO AFTER SATYA NIKETAN?

Deepanshu Shokeen's student activism also became more visible after the Satya Niketan tragedy.

Following the incident, he decided to stop wearing shoes until students received justice. The protest became part of his public image as he became more active on student issues.

Student safety, accommodation and campus infrastructure were among the major issues surrounding this year's DUSU campaign.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR DEEPANSHU SHOKEEN?

Deepanshu Shokeen's DUSU Vice-President victory gives him a position at the centre of Delhi University's student politics without the backing of a major student organisation.

His journey — from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College to Buddhist Studies, from seeking an NSUI ticket to contesting independently, and finally winning the Vice-President post — has made Deepanshu Shokeen one of the defining faces of DUSU 2026.

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