New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said that his party will announce the chief ministerial candidate for the Punjab Assembly elections on Tuesday. The Delhi Chief Minister further told reporters that the announcement would be made at 12 noon.
He made the remarks after flagging off the Delhi Transport Corporation’s (DTC) first electric bus in the national capital.
Kejriwal had issued a phone number and asked the people of Punjab to tell them who they wanted to see as the face of AAP’s chief ministerial post. In the same press conference, he had said that the party was willing to give the responsibility to Bhagwant Mann, but he himself suggested seeking people’s choice.
On Sunday, AAP MLA Harpal Singh Cheema said the party has received around 15 lakh responses on its “Janata Chungi Apna CM” campaign.
Kejriwal had pulled himself out of the race when he launched the campaign last week and said the name of the candidate for the top post would be announced after getting the response of the people.
The people of Punjab have been asked to give their choice through SMS, WhatsApp or voice message on mobile number 7074870748 by 5 pm on Monday.
Cheema said that the enthusiasm shown by the people of the state is proof that this time AAP will definitely form the government in Punjab and that too with a clear majority.
Cheema said the people of Punjab will “wipe out traditional political parties” in the upcoming elections and give mandate to AAP.
Meanwhile, AAP released its 10th list of candidates for Punjab Assembly elections. Polling for 117 assembly seats in Punjab will be held in a single phase on February 14. The results will be declared on March 10.
In the 2017 assembly elections, the Congress won an absolute majority in the state by winning 77 seats and ousted the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party government after 10 years.
AAP emerged as the second largest party with 20 seats, followed by SAD which won 15 seats. BJP got three seats.
first published:Jan. 17, 2022, 1:01 p.m.
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