New Delhi: Newly elected Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) President Yash Dabas stated on Saturday that his immediate priority will be initiating a safety audit of all college hostels and paying guest (PG) accommodations, whilst Vice-President Deepanshu Shokeen pledged to pursue justice for those killed in the Satya Niketan building collapse.

"This victory belongs to social harmony, patriotism and unity," said Dabas, whose Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) secured three of the four central panel positions.

Shokeen, who polled 30,615 votes to win as an independent candidate after being denied a National Students' Union of India (NSUI) ticket, said his experiences on the campaign trail dictated his priorities.

"My priority will be to fight for students' rights and demand justice for those who lost their lives in the Satya Niketan incident. The hardships I faced while campaigning on foot reminded me of the difficulties faced by nearly 1.5 lakh students of Delhi University, and I will work to address their concerns and fight for their rights," he said.

Shokeen, who is pursuing a Master of Arts degree in the Department of Buddhist Studies, is the son of a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus conductor and an Anganwadi teacher, and hails from Peeragarhi village in west Delhi.

In the presidential contest, Dabas garnered 24,576 votes, defeating NSUI candidate Vijai Shankar Meena by a margin of 2,053 votes.

The ABVP also secured the post of secretary, with its candidate polling 21,650 votes against 14,869 for the NSUI nominee. For the joint secretary position, the ABVP candidate obtained 16,615 votes, narrowly outpolling the Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha candidate who received 15,778 votes.

The Congress-backed NSUI failed to win any of the four central panel seats. In the previous year's elections, the ABVP won the posts of president, secretary, and joint secretary, whilst the NSUI claimed the vice-presidential seat.

PTI