Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) Elections 2026: Student Housing Becomes Top Issue After Satya

Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) Elections 2026 placed student housing at centre of political debate. Following recent Satya Niketan hostel collapse, incident has raised concerns over shortage of hostel seats, unsafe PG accommodations and high costs for students living around university.

With campaigning in progress, major student organisations released housing-focused manifesto promises, while Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) is also scheduled to announce its manifesto on Monday. The student elections will take place on September 18, and winners will be announced next day. Main student groups like AISA-SFI alliance, ABVP and Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP) are focusing heavily on cheap housing and campus safety in their plans.

AISA-SFI Calls Collapse a ‘Dark Reality’

According to alliance, less than 5% of DU students receive hostel accommodation, despite UGC hostel facilities for at least 60% of students.

Key promises by AISA-SFI include:

• At least two hostels in every DU college
• Subsidised, standardised and certified private accommodations
• A Rent Control Act within a 2-km radius of colleges and university zones
• Regulation of Delhi University PG accommodations

Beyond housing, the alliance has also proposed retaining DU’s own entrance examination instead of CUET, removing mandatory attendance and revising 45% internal assessment component.

It has additionally promised 50% reservation for women in the central panel, Equal Opportunity and Grievance Redressal Cells, merit-cum-means fellowships, concessional metro passes, menstrual leave, higher PhD stipends, voting rights for PhD scholars, gender-neutral washrooms, reservation for transgender students and public disclosure of DUSU expenditure and annual budget.

ABVP Promises New Hostels and Student Housing Cell

ABVP Promises New Hostels and Student Housing Cell

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) launched its ‘Awas’ agenda, making hostel expansion and student safety its key election promises.

ABVP’s housing proposals include:

• New hostels across Delhi University and its colleges
• Separate girls’ hostels in every college
• A Student Housing Cell and dedicated helpline
• Improved sanitation and hygiene standards in hostels
• Implementation of the PG and Student Accommodation Regulation Act across Delhi-NCR
• Rent regulation and mandatory fire & safety audits of PGs and hostels
• Regular infrastructure reviews to improve student safety

The organisation also promised increased hostel seats, better facilities for students with disabilities, student representation in Academic and Executive Councils, an Anti-Discrimination and Grievance Cell, legal aid in sexual harassment cases, women-staffed police booths, sanitary napkin vending machines and access to a full-time gynaecologist.

ASAP Announces ‘Hostels for All’

The Aam Aadmi Party Students’ Association (ASAP) made ‘Hostels for All’ one of its four major election pillars.

The student group has demanded that Central Government construct more hostels and bear students’ PG accommodation expenses till hostel allotments are made.

ASAP’s key promises are:

• Affordable hostels for all students
• Reduction in high PG rents
• Reversing fee hikes and refund of collected fees
• 100% concession on Delhi Metro fares
• Free travel on DTC and cluster buses
• Free counselling in every college
• A 24×7 student helpline
• Stronger Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs)
• Menstrual leave of up to 15 days per semester without attendance penalty
• Permanent PCR vans outside girls’ colleges
• Gender-neutral washrooms
• Uniform hostel reservation policy across DU colleges
• Stronger scholarships for SC, ST and OBC studentsTransparent spot rounds for reserved-category seats
• Student Housing Emerges as the Biggest Election Issue

The Satya Niketan hostel collapse made student accommodation into defining issue of DUSU Elections 2026. From increasing hostel capacity to regulating PGs and improving affordability and safety, student organisations have made DU student housing one of central highlights of their election campaigns.