Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a rock concert organised by CYSS at Delhi's Talkatora Stadium (Press Trust of India)
Congress and BJP today accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of "misusing" the government machinery in trying to "bribe" students by organising events such as the recent rock concert at Talkatora stadium, ahead of the Delhi University polls.
AAP hit back saying the parties were attempting to "remain relevant" by resorting to such tactics and that Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) as merely being innovative in mobilising students.
Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken alleged that AAP's students' wing CYSS was setting a "bad precedent" by spending "crores" in putting up advertisements on billboards, bus shelters across the city. This never happened earlier, he said.
"We have never seen such a kind of money being spent on Delhi University elections. Functions like the one in Talkatora stadium will cost crores of rupees. The AAP is setting a bad precedence by such misuse of official machinery," Mr Maken said.
The star-studded event at Talkatora stadium, organised by CYSS for freshers', was addressed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia, Transport Minister Gopal Rai on September 1.
Congress leader Haroon Yusuf said, "Now he (Kejriwal) is trying to bribe the student community by saying that they will give concession in the metro journey and wifi will be free of cost."
"Some unemployed leaders of congress party are blaming the Aam Admi Party. It is so easy for them to abuse Aam Admi Party and make space for 2-3 column news story in newspapers. The CYSS is merely being innovative in its fight against money and muscle power," AAP Delhi chief Dilip Pandey said.
State BJP chief Satish Upadhyay alleged that CYSS was violating Lyngdoh panel guidelines by flashing Mr Kejriwal's face in posters.
"It is shameful. In last 40 years DUSU elections have never seen pictures, posters of regular political leaders but violating all Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, CYSS has put up Kejriwal's pictures all over Delhi," he said.
The Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) elections will be held on September 11. With the entry of CYSS, it is set to be a triangular contest with the other players being NSUI and ABVP.