IIT students fire up AAP campaign, hit the road to ensure Kejriwal's success in Delhi elections

Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Admi Party (AAP) has harnessed hundreds of the most fertile young minds in the Capital. Young students - some too young to even vote this time - from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) are firing up the AAP campaign engine. Kejriwal is an IIT alumnus too.

Almost 500 students from IIT-D are working around the clock to ensure that AAP has a gamechanging impact in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. From managing social media accounts, creating websites to promote the party and going door to door for campaigning, the young students are going the distance for the political party of their choice.

"We go in groups to various constituencies and meet people personally. Each volunteer talks to a family and informs them about the plans of AAP. We also listen to their problems and make a note of it, which we later on give to our AAP candidate in that constituency so that solutions can be found," said Anil Kori, a former student of IIT-D, who manages AAP volunteers from his institution.

IITs are recognised all over world for academic excellence but the Anna Hazare movement and the subsequent birth of AAP has apparently launched a new wave of political awareness in these campuses. Students say that earlier they were not very aware of the nation's political situation but now they want to be part of change.

"Studying is important to nationbuilding but if we have so much corruption then how will the nation be built? Kejriwal is from IIT and he has devoted his life to the nation. We not only go for campaigning but also hold discussions in college so that more and more students come with us," said Prince, a final-year student of B.Tech. (Textiles) at IIT-D.

Nothing seems to stop these students, not even physical challenges. Sachidanand Kumar, a 23-year-old left physically challenged by the polio he contracted at was eight months of age, ventures out on his wheelchair to campaign for AAP in Malyiva Nagar constituency. "My motivation to do something is bigger than my physical handicap. I meet people and convince them to vote for AAP," said Kumar.



To ensure there is enough time for campaigning, these students are cutting down on socialising. They say that they no more go out for movies or hang out with friends. "I haven't been to a movie in a year. I finish classes by 5 or 6 pm and head back campaign work. On free days I visit constituencies. This is no sacrifice, I am doing it because I love my nation," Shivam Singhal, a second-year student of Mathematics and Computing.

The students have taken upon themselves to fund their political activity. They receive funds from their seniors who are working in industries. "We receive some money from our seniors. Recently we got around Rs.60,000 from our seniors who have passed out of IITD. We also spend from our own pockets by cutting down on expenses," said Raghav, a secondyear student of Biochemical Engineering. It's not just IIT-D; students from Delhi University (DU) are also devoting their time to campaign for AAP. Around 500-600 students from various colleges have come together to campaign in various constituencies including Bawana, Tri Nagar, Model Town and Burari.

Many of the students have been associated with student wing of either the BJP or Congress but have now shifted loyalties to AAP. "I was a supporter of BJP earlier and was active with ABVP. But after seeing AAP I decided that only this party can bring real change and now I am working full day to make sure AAP wins," said Amit who is studying for a B.Sc. degree at a DU college.