DUSU polls: AAP campaigning for student wing against rules, says Delhi University

In a violation of Lyngdoh Committee rules, AAP leaders Bhagwant Mann and Raghav Chadda on Tuesday visited Delhi University colleges to campaign for party student wing Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) in run up to the DUSU polls.

While the university is saying that the norms for the elections have been violated, CYSS leaders claimed the leaders had visited the North Campus to "appeal for honest politics". As per the rules, the university does not permit any endorsement of candidates by political parties for Delhi University Students Union polls.

Also when the model code of conduct is in force, no political leaders are allowed to visit the campus for any reason. While Bhagwant Mann visited Khalsa College, Chadda was spotted campaigning for CYSS at Miranda House which is making its debut in the elections scheduled on September 11.

On Monday, Delhi Minister for Women and Child Development Sandeep Kumar had gone to Swami Shradhanand college. "This is a gross violation of Lyngdoh Committee rules and is unfortunate that the law makers are indulging in such activities. As per rules, only the candidates can visit the colleges during the campaigning time," said Chief Election Commissioner for DUSU polls, DS Rawat. "The principals should report the matter to the election office and we will issue show-cause notices to them. But unless we get a complaint from them we can't take suo-motu action," he said. "But even after the elections are over and the grievance re-dressal cell rules that there was a violation of code, the election for the particular post can be cancelled," he added.

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The university had on Monday issued memos to 16 candidates from four student political parties for violating the model code of conduct for DUSU elections by using printed material for campaigning with names of political parties in it. The parties are Congress-affiliated National Students Union of India, BJP's Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Aam Aadmi Party's Chatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti, and India National Students Organisation.

DU had last week said it was mulling action against the CYSS following complaints that the organisation was using "money power" in campaigning by organising a star-studded rock concert where Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had made announcements promising free Wi-Fi, one lakh jobs and higher education loan schemes. CYSS leaders however, denied that the AAP leaders violated the code. 

"Violation of the code is when they enter the classes. Visiting the campus is not a violation of the code. Also they just went to appeal the students vote for honesty," said CYSS Vice President Anmol Panwar.