Who is Deepanshu Shokeen, bus conductor's son who made DUSU history?

Deepanshu Shokeen has created a first of sorts in Delhi University student politics after winning the vice-president post in the 2026 Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections as an Independent candidate.

Shokeen defeated his rivals in a closely watched contest to become the first Independent candidate to occupy the vice-president post in the students' union's history.

Speaking to NDTV after the result, Shokeen said he had anticipated the outcome, pointing to the support he received from students across different colleges.

"I was expecting this kind of trend. I was getting good support in all the colleges. Moreover, students were with me, common students. Not the political ones. Political ones were also supporting me, but the neutral crowd. It was very difficult to reach the neutral crowd or the common students who are not into these political things. But I'm happy that they are with me and they are supporting the Voice of DUSU," he said.

A family background away from politics

Shokeen comes from Peeragarhi. His father works as a bus conductor and his mother is an Anganwadi worker.

A graduate of Bhagat Singh College, Shokeen had been interested in entering student politics even though his father wanted him to prepare for the Union Public Service Commission examinations.

His electoral journey took an independent turn after he initially sought a ticket from the National Students' Union of India. He filed his nomination as an organisation-backed candidate but was subsequently asked to withdraw it.

Shokeen refused to step aside and instead decided to contest the election as an Independent candidate.

Protest over Satya Niketan collapse

Shokeen had also drawn attention over his response to the PG accommodation collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan. Following the incident, he vowed not to wear slippers until justice was delivered.

His campaign eventually culminated in a victory that marked a new chapter in the DUSU elections, with Shokeen securing the vice-president position without contesting under the banner of a major student organisation.