Having trounced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and all other political rivals in the last Delhi Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is eyeing to foray into students’ politics in the national Capital, especially the Delhi University, through its student wing. There are indications that the AAP may field candidates to test waters in the oncoming Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections.
AAP’s student wing Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) is gearing up for September DUSU polls though no decision has yet been taken by the party in this regard. “No decision has been taken on this as yet. The party leadership will decide on this soon,” said CYSS president Anupam Singh Yadav said. The youth wing has, however, increased its activities in the North and South Campuses of the DU.
DUSU polls have proved to be a stepping stone to the mainstream politics for many — including Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, AAP MlA Alka lamba, BJP MlA Vijender Gupta and senior Congress leader Ajay Maken. DUSU elections are keenly contested as leading political parties leave nothing to chance to win the polls as they help strengthen parties’ youth base.
However, it has started working to increase its base by helping students in the admission process to raising student specific issues, just like its rivals — the ABVP, the students wing of the BJP, and NSUI of the Congress.
“Our major thrust is of course on the DU as 54,000 admissions take place every year. We have our team deputed in 40 colleges helping students in admission process. We added 50 new volunteers to the wing during the admission process and there are around 3,500 sympathisers in different colleges,” Yadav said.
“We also have teams at the JNU, IIT-Delhi and Indraprastha University. There are teams catering to students appearing for civil services exams in the Mukherjee Nagar area and chartered accountancy in the laxmi Nagar area,” he added.
CYSS is one of the major and active frontal organisations of the AAP which was relaunched before Delhi Assembly polls. It played a significant role in mobilising support for the party when it was out of power.
Ahead of elections, it had deputed its volunteers outside the Metro stations and inside, urging people to vote for the party. Its former chief Sarita Singh was also rewarded with an AAP ticket from Rohtas Nagar. Singh is now a parliamentary secretary in the AAP Government.