What is ABVP full form? student organisation’s candidate Aryan Maan leading in DUSU Elections 2025 News24 –
As the counting for Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections 2025 is underway, all eyes are on who will claim the throne, will NSUI retain its stronghold or will ABVP mark a comeback after a one-year gap? Delhi University has always seen a tight contest between two prominent student organisations, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) backed by Congress and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
What is ABVP full form?
The full form of ABVP is Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. It is a student organisation of India established in 1949.
Who is Aryan Maan?
Aryan Maan, is an ABVP candidate running for the president post of the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections and currently leading in early trends. He comes from a well-known business family. The 23-year-old hails from Bahadurgarh, Haryana. His profile also highlights that he is a national-level football player. He secured admission to Delhi University through the sports quota by representing football at the national level. Maan completed his B.Com from Hansraj College in 2025. His father, Sikandar Maan, is the Executive Director of ADS Group in Beri. The family also owns the Royal Green liquor brand.
In this article, we will trace ABVP’s journey in campus politics and explore how it has maintained its grip on DUSU over the years.
When and how was the ABVP established?
ABVP stands for Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, established in 1949, with RSS activist Balraj Madhok’s initiative is a student organisation in India. In the wake of Independence, when there was a call to make the country a modern and developed one, a group of determined youth began a movement centered in the college and University campuses across the country. A national forum of these activities was then formalised and registered on the July 9, 1949, in the form of a student organisation, called the ABVP.
When India was losing shackles of colonialism, foreign domination and subjugation, ABVP got established in the country. The motto of this student organisation was to reconstruct India into a powerful, prosperous and proud nation. With this aim, ABVP started to organise multi-dimensional and diverse activities as a nationwide student organisation, focusing on every social scale.
ABVP’s role and growth over the years
In the National Conference of 1971, ABVP while explaining its role, stated, “Students are not the citizens of tomorrow, but of today”. Students are not only partners in the educational world, but they are responsible citizens of the country, too. The ABVP, invoked all to treat student’s Power as Nation’s Power and not as a nuisance and proclaimed, “Student’s Power, Nation’s Power.” (This part has been taken from ABVP’s website).
By 1974, ABVP had 160,000 members across 790 campuses and had gained control of several major universities, including Delhi University, through student elections. By 1983, its membership had grown to 250,000 with 1,100 branches. The organisation expanded further in the 1990s, gaining more support after the Babri Masjid demolition and the economic reforms introduced by the PV Narasimha Rao government.
ABVP’s journey in DUSU elections
The Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) is the students’ union at the University of Delhi. Established in 1949, DUSU is the world’s largest student body. The first DUSU elections were held in 1954. Several ministers like Arun Jaitley, Vijay Goel, Vijay Jolly, Ajay Maken, Rekha Gupta and Alka Lamba have their political career shaped by 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 of the university faculties, teaching departments and member colleges. As of 2019, there are total of 52 Delhi University colleges and faculties affiliated to DUSU.
ABVP has consistently maintained a stronghold over DUSU since 1954. During the 1970s–80s, it was the only major student organisation and secured massive victories until 1982. NSUI began emerging during this time only, and won the DUSU elections for the first time in 1985, with Congress leader Ajay Maken becoming the president. From then on, the battle centered around NSUI and ABVP, with ABVP facing tough competition from the Congress-backed student organisation.
ABVP made a comeback in 1996, with the now Delhi CM Rekha Gupta as president. The ABVP continued to lead the DUSU body until 1999, before NSUI returned to power in 2001. NSUI then dominated until 2008, when ABVP marked its return with Nupur Sharma as President.
Both NSUI and ABVP both faced a setback when an independent candidate Manoj choudhary became DUSU President in 2009. However, ABVP returned to power in 2010. NSUI also made a comeback, by holding power from 2011 -2013. ABVP then claimed the DUSU president post for next 5 years, until 2017. NSUI won in 2017, followed by ABVP winning in 2018 and continuing until 2024, with Tushar Dedha serving as the last president from ABVP (2023–24). Currently, Ronak Khatri of NSUI holds the position of DUSU President. ABVP has secured 17 wins so far, while NSUI follows with 12 victories in DUSU elections.