Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday gave a clear indication that party supremo Arvind Kejriwal could be it’s chief ministerial candidate if it is voted to power in Punjab.
At a public gathering in Mohali, Mr. Sisodia said: “When you are voting, you vote thinking that you are voting to make Arvind Kejriwal as the chief minister. Your vote is for Kejriwal,” he said.
Mr. Sisodia said Mr. Kejriwal would ensure that whatever promises are made to the people of the State are fulfilled when the party comes to power.
Taking to media, Mr. Sisodia said: “The public was asking me who will be the chief minister. I told them they should believe that Arvind Kejriwal is going to be Punjab’s CM,” he said, while adding that, “MLAs will decide who their CM is going to be, but I can assure you that all promises made by the party will be honoured by Mr. Kejriwal.”
Notably, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal has recently said that the AAP would not announce chief ministerial candidate in Punjab.
Cat out of the bag: SAD
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress party were quick to hit out at Arvind Kejriwal after Mr. Sisodia’s statement.
Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “The cat is out of the bag. Kejriwal has been salivating to become chief minister of Punjab since two years now and finally the party has made his announcement after clearing all the road blocks in his way.”
Mr. Badal said the AAP might have succeeded in its game plan of making Mr. Kejriwal the CM candidate of the party but it would not be able to fool Punjabis.
“The party, including Mr. Kejriwal, kept saying that a Punjabi will be chosen as its chief ministerial face but has now chosen a Haryanvi, who has already bartered away the interests of Punjab on the SYL (Sutlej Yamuna Link) to Haryana. We are Punjabis foremost and Akalis, Congress or BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) supporters later. If an outsider becomes CM of our State, our very existence is at stake,” he added.
Thoroughly exposed: Congress
Taking a dig at Mr. Kejriwal, Congress State president Captain Amarinder said: “Mr. Kejriwal’s intentions have been thoroughly exposed with this development. The AAP leader has been playing unabashedly with the sentiments of the people of Punjab since he stepped on its soil.”
Capt. Amarinder alleged that entire campaign of the AAP, led by Mr. Kejriwal, was founded on lies, which the Mr. Kejriwal was trying desperately to force the people to swallow, with all kinds of electoral gimmicks and promises that the party had no intention of keeping.
“I urge people to use their ballot on February 4 to show Mr. Kejriwal that they cannot be fooled into selling their interests to petty and selfish individuals like him,” he said.
