File Photo: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with his deputy Manish Sisodia. (Press Trust of India)
After a resounding victory in the Delhi Assembly polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) may try to make inroads into educational institutions in the National Capital, especially the Delhi University, through its student wing.
Delhi University Student Union (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.
AAP's student wing Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) is likely to contest the September polls though no decision has yet been taken. "No decision has been taken on this as yet. The party leadership will decide on this soon," said CYSS president Anupam Singh Yadav said.
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 Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students wing of the RSS, and National Students Union of India (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 with the admission process. We added 50 new volunteers to the wing during the admission process and there are 3500 sympathisers in different colleges.
"But 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," Mr Yadav 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. Former chief Sarita Singh was also rewarded with an AAP ticket from Rohtas Nagar. She is now a parliamentary secretary in the AAP government.
The students wing's ambitious plan is not just limited to Delhi. Ahead of Punjab polls, where AAP has ambitious plans,
it has formed several frontal organisations and the students wing is one of them. This week, the AAP's Maharashtra Unit also launched its students and youth wing along with Graduate's Forum with the purpose of making a foray into student politics in the state.