I, wife won’t contest, says Kejriwal

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October  23

Admitting that talks were on with former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu for a poll alliance in Punjab, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said the party’s chief ministerial candidate would be from among the elected MLAs. 

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In an interview with The Tribune on way to Ludhiana, Kejriwal, who is on a three-day Punjab visit, exuded confidence. “It is wrong to say the popularity graph of our party has declined because of the recent controversies. On the contrary, we are winning 96 seats as per the latest survey conducted by us. I do not trust other surveys as these are rigged,” he said.

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On the terms of alliance with Sidhu, he refused to say much. “Let us see how the talks proceed. I have always said that I respect him, irrespective of whether he is with us or another party.”  

Kejriwal speaks to The Tribune, levelling charges against Chhotepur:

Claiming that his party had not veered off the track and that there was no  lack of synergy between AAP’s Delhi and Punjab teams, Kejriwal   said they had several leaders from Punjab capable of holding the CM’s post. Trashing reports that he planned to contest from Punjab as  purely “imaginary,” he said: “Neither me nor my wife will be contesting. I am not buying a house in Punjab. But I will be touring the state post-Diwali.” 

Pointing out the “new-found love” between Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh and the Badals, Kejriwal alleged the Akalis were pumping drug money into the Congress election campaign.