LS elections: Kejriwal, Mann mum on MP Rinku’s candidature

Deepkamal Kaur

Jalandhar, March 2

Even as there had been speculation that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann could make an announcement regarding the candidature of its lone sitting Lok Sabha MP Sushil Rinku, nothing of the sort happened here today.

When Kejriwal said he came to Jalandhar last year with an appeal to voters to support Sushil Rinku as MP, everyone was thinking that something could come next. He, however, quickly changed the topic from Jalandhar saying he again come to Punjab seeking support on all 13 seats for the party.

In a press conference too, both CMs were questioned about the announcement of candidates to which they said discussions were still on about Punjab list and announcement could take some more days. Other than Rinku, Rajya Sabha MPs Balbir S Seechewal and Ashok Mittal were also at the venue.

The duo came to Jalandhar to inaugurate 165 Aam Aadmi Clinics. Everyone was left thinking as to why they did not postpone the event when the weather was not good. While the sky turned dark and heavy rain, accompanied by hailstorm, lashed the region, the duo alighted at the Adampur airport in separate plane and chopper. Despite such inclement weather, they took a chopper that even reached the periphery of the venue near Government Sports College, but could not land at the helipad. The chopper again flew back to Adampur, from where they came by road. By the time they reached the venue, a part of the tents had already given way.

While the duo was earlier slated to do the same event in Kapurthala, the venue was shifted to Banga and then to Jalandhar just a day before.

An AAP leader guessed, “The only compelling reason to start Punjab tour today in adverse weather could be Kejriwal’s eighth summon for Monday.” The two CMs will visit Ludhiana tomorrow to launch a School of Eminence and hold an industry meet. They will later fly to Amritsar.