Safety audit of hostels, PGs my first task: New DUSU President Yash Dabas

Yash Dabas has won the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) President election, leading the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) to a clean sweep of three central-panel posts.

Dabas won the DUSU president election with 24,576 votes, defeating NSUI's Vijay Meena, who secured 22,523 votes.

Speaking after his victory, Dabas identified student accommodation and safety as his immediate priorities. He said his first task would be to push for safety audits of hostels and paying guest (PG) accommodations, along with the construction of new hostels for women.

"First, the safety audit of every PG and hostel should be done. And apart from that, the construction of new hostels should be done. Every college should have a girls' hostel. A helpline number should be issued," Dabas told ANI.

His priorities come against the backdrop of concerns surrounding student accommodation and the Satya Niketan building collapse, which became a major issue during the DUSU election campaign. ABVP celebrating after 3-1 victory (Photo: ITG) WHAT ARE YASH DABAS' PLANS FOR HOSTELS AND STUDENT SAFETY?

Dabas said expanding hostel access would be a key part of his work as DUSU president.

He specifically called for new girls' hostels in every college and helpline numbers for students living in hostels and PG accommodations. He also linked the issue to the need for safety checks across existing accommodation.

"The students will get a hostel. This will be our first task," Dabas said, while reiterating his demand for safety audits and new hostel construction.

The commitments place accommodation and student safety at the centre of his stated post-election agenda.HOW DID SATYA NIKETAN SHAPE THE DUSU ELECTION?

The Satya Niketan building collapse incident featured prominently in questions about the new DUSU leadership's responsibilities.

The building collapse in Delhi on September 6 killed seven people, including five Delhi University students, bringing student accommodation safety into sharp focus. The five-storey paying guest building collapsed during renovation work, with unauthorised construction and ongoing basement work emerging as key concerns in the investigation.

A surviving student reportedly raised concerns about construction activity before the collapse. The tragedy has intensified demands for stricter safety audits and accountability for hostel and PG operators.

Dabas said ABVP had continued its protest over the incident and demanded the resignation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi commissioner.

The issue has also raised questions about the safety of student accommodation in the capital, particularly for students living in rented and paying guest facilities.

Dabas' proposed safety audits and helplines are aimed at addressing these concerns, although the interview did not specify a timeline, budget or implementation mechanism for the proposed measures.#WATCH | Delhi: ABVP's Yash Dabas wins the post of President with 24,576 votesHe says, "It feels great because this is a victory for the entire country against the fake narrative that was being propagated nationwide. Today, the students of Delhi University have rejected that https://t.co/gzZODTf6DZ pic.twitter.com/oMZJlI03Tz— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2026'GEN Z STUDENTS SUPPORT ABVP'

Following the victory, Dabas described the result as evidence of Gen Z students' support for ABVP and its political position.

"Today, the students of Delhi University have kicked them. And it has been shown that Gen Z's are with ABVP. Gen Z's are with nation," he said, referring to what he described as the rejection of a "fake narrative."

Dabas also characterised the result as a defeat for the Congress leadership and NSUI. He said the result had answered questions about which political direction Gen Z students were taking.YASH DABAS ON PAPER LEAK PROTESTS

When asked about ABVP's involvement in protests over examination paper leaks, Dabas defended the organisation's role.

He said ABVP was among the first student organisations to protest outside the National Testing Agency (NTA) office after the examination leak was reported. He also referred to demands for a Central Bureau of Investigation enquiry and arrests in the case.advertisementTHE MARKSHEET CONTROVERSYHe also spoke about a difficult period in his personal life, explaining that his father had been hospitalised for several months during the examination period, explaining the marksheet controversy.

"At that time, my priority was my family. Because, I am with them. They are the ones who have helped me reach here," Dabas said.

He added that his father's health had affected his ability to focus on examinations during that period. (Photo: ITG) WHAT IS NEXT FOR DUSU PRESIDENT YASH DABAS?

With the election over, Dabas faces the task of turning his campaign commitments into student-focused initiatives.

His stated priorities include accommodation safety audits, new girls' hostels and helplines for students. The implementation of these proposals will depend on coordination with university authorities and relevant civic bodies.

For the new DUSU president, the next phase will involve addressing the concerns he raised during the election while working within the responsibilities of the students' union.