Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is known for turning to the people when he is facing trouble, and he has done it again on Tuesday saying the Aam Aadmi Party was short of funds and sought public support.

Speaking to ANI, Kejriwal told the public that AAP was a clean party and that is why, instead of acquiring money the "wrong way", he is asking the people of the country.

"The public funded us, we never took any money under the table. We gave a record of every rupee we got," he told ANI.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says AAP has run out of money, appeals for more donations to the Aam Aadmi Party — ANI (@ANI_news) July 14, 2015

After we came to power, our funds exhausted. Now we want funds to run our party and we want it from the public: Arvind Kejriwal to ANI — ANI (@ANI_news) July 14, 2015

We are indebted to the people for their help. But now we need funds for day to day expenses: Arvind Kejriwal to ANI pic.twitter.com/eeoHBNnzhR — ANI (@ANI_news) July 14, 2015

You would say Im a bizarre CM, asking for funds like this. We can get money the wrong way but that is not who we are: Arvind Kejriwal to ANI — ANI (@ANI_news) July 14, 2015

According the AAP website, the party received Rs 21,42,45,763 by 50,228 donors, from 74 countries, 39 states and Union Territories since 1 November, 2014.

Despite that it had fallen way short of achieving its target of collecting Rs 30 crore before the 7 February polling. With around Rs 18 crore in its kitty, AAP has fallen short of its target of collecting Rs 30 crore before the elections, despite employing a number of innovative initiatives like fundraiser dinners, 'Coffee with Kejriwal', and 'Selfie with Mufflerman'.

It was not just the public, in June former AAP leader and Swaraj Abhiyan member Yogendra Yadav too had criticised Kejriwal for the way he used his funds.

India Today quoted Yadav as saying, "The AAP had come to power by promising new type of politics. But by coming up with such advertisement, it is getting into the league of Mayawati and Jayalalithaa."

And while Kejriwal may have thought his appeal for funds today was honest, many on Twitter were not happy. Within a few minutes of his statements, the hashtag #dhokhebazkejri started trending on Twitter with people questioning how he had managed such huge ad campaigns if AAP was cash strapped.

While it was the Delhi government's money that was spent for the ad campaigns, people blamed Kejriwal for asking money to fund his party. The ad campaigns had allegedly cost Rs 526 cr.

Here's what people on Twitter had to say:

@vastalitech #धोखेबाज़_केजरी Arab and vetican asks repayment of money that they inverted. — manu tripathi (@tripathimanu) July 14, 2015

Janta Hard Earned money isn't for ur Daily Expenses #धोखेबाज़_केजरी — Appu Pandey (@Support_changee) July 14, 2015

Lagta hai 540 Cr ka budget ads ke liye kam pad gaya #धोखेबाज़_केजरी https://t.co/BhezuuOZJO — Miss Tiwari (@MiissTiwari) July 14, 2015

Baccho ki kasam Na samarthan lenge na denge Free Wifi Free Water Lokpal 370 Pages k saboot No VIP Free Raita #धोखेबाज़_केजरी — Ashish Kanojiya #HDL (@ash_the_hacker) July 14, 2015

#धोखेबाज़_केजरी now he have to pay back wid interest to FORD FOUNDATION 1!! will payback by spreadng instability in india !! — Akshat Paliwal (@AkshatPaliwal) July 14, 2015

Firstpost is now on WhatsApp. For the latest analysis, commentary and news updates, sign up for our WhatsApp services. Just go to Firstpost.com/Whatsapp and hit the Subscribe button.