Not so aam after all! AAP advertising budget is a whopping Rs526 crore

It seems Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is controversy’s favourite child this season. The ‘people’s party has now courted controversy over its advertising budget of whopping Rs 526 crore. According to a report by ET, the Delhi government has set aside a massive fund for its radio advertisements over the current financial year.
"They (Delhi Government) have set aside Rs 526 crore just for information and publicity and last year only Rs 24 crore was spent for the same. They have cut budget from various other infrastructure development works and they are spending money on their own party workers and consultants. Is it not a form of corruption by spending more money on self publicity?” said Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee ( DPCC) chief Ajay Maken.

It should be noted that that Delhi government runs its advertisements with the tagline 'Jo Kaha, So Kiya', in which Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal directly addresses people about the pre-poll promises being fulfilled.

The massive advertising budget of the party that claims to be of the commom man, has been severely criticized by both BJP and Congress as well as former party leader Prashant Bhushan.

"If the radio advertisement is used to publicise and promote a party, government or a political leader, that would be in violation of Supreme Court's order and it will be soon brought to the notice of the court that this is how political parties are violating the spirit of court's order," Bhushan said.

The former leader alleged that Arvind Kejriwal government's new FM radio ad was a contempt of court and the issue would soon be brought to the notice of the Supreme Court.