There is "nothing wrong" with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi being prominently featured in posters of BJP's youth wing for Delhi University Student's Union elections, Delhi BJP has said.
"Modi is hugely popular among students and the youth and he himself has worked in ABVP, so there is nothing wrong in his name featuring in its campaign," Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel said in a statement.
No one should have a problem with Modi's name being associated with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad's campaign for DUSU polls, he said.
Two posters have been doing the rounds in social media announcing the names of the candidates for the four DUSU posts with a photograph of the Gujarat Chief Minister.
One of them carriers a picture of Swami Vivekananda with a slogan - "Yes we can, yes we do" - which is one of Modi's rallying cries.
Goel said Modi had received "unprecedented welcome" during a lecture at Sri Ram College of Commerce some time back. Students had heard him with rapt attention, he said.
"He had a huge following among the DU students. So, it is quite natural if Modi's name figures in ABVP's campaign," he said.
The ABVP is contesting for all four seats of DUSU with candidates Aman Awana running for President, Utkarsh Chaudhry for Vice-President, Anshu Lakra for Secretary and Raju Rawat for Joint Secretary.
Goel said it is clear that ABVP's detractors are worried by the overwhelming support of students to its DUSU campaign. It is heading towards a decisive victory in DUSU polls, he said.
Goel, who was DUSU President, said those trying to create any controversy out of this issue should do their homework.
"A number of leaders in BJP today have worked during their student days in ABVP, including myself. Today, all of us who are working in BJP are proud to say that we have worked in ABVP during our student days. ABVP is an organisation for whom student politics is not an end itself, but it is yet another tool for nation building," Goel said.
He said the nation was looking for a change from the corrupt Congress-led government.
"The youth and especially the students have to spearhead this campaign. The NSUI represents the corrupt and inefficient Congress government," he said, adding that DU students were also looking for a change.
