Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party has decided to formally consolidate youth power and join student politics across the country. Party sources told The Hindu that if it gets “sufficient” volunteers and members, the AAP would contest students’ union elections in Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University later this year.
The party will put up the proposal to enter student politics in its highest decision making body – Political Affairs Committee.
The issue had already come up twice during the two-day meeting of youth leaders and students earlier this week. Several of the over 200 student representatives and youth leaders from over 25 universities, who attended the “brain-storming session”, wanted the party to enter student politics.
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“Students who participated in the session were quite enthusiastic and collectively suggested that the AAP should contest student elections as well. It would be a good idea to enter student politics after consolidating the youth support base. We will put the proposal before the PAC which will take the final call,” said a senior AAP leader.
Students who attended the AAP meeting included those from Delhi University, JNU, IIT Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, Mumbai University, Punjab Technical University, BHU and Patna University. AAP leader Dilip K. Pandey told The Hindu that the party did not have formal structures for youth so the first priority would be to bring as many youth as possible under the party fold to channelise their energy into its AAP’s Lok Sabha campaign. The party is also launching a 10-day youth and student volunteer registration programme from Saturday.