Aam Aadmi Party to declare Punjab CM candidate today
The AAP had released a phone number, asking voters in Punjab to decide the party's chief ministerial candidate ahead of the February 20 election.
In Short
- AAP's survey received 19 lakh responses in 96 hours
- Punjab AAP chief Bhagwant Mann is being seen as the frontrunner
- Counting of votes for Punjab's 117-member assembly will be held on March 10
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will declare its chief ministerial candidate for Punjab on Tuesday. If party insiders are to be believed, the announcement will be made by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal during his visit to the poll-bound state.
Kejriwal, who is also the AAP's national convener, is scheduled to address a press conference in Punjab's Mohali at 12 pm on Tuesday.
The AAP had emerged as the principal Opposition party in Punjab in the previous assembly elections, bagging 17 of 117 seats.
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Earlier this week, the AAP said the people of Punjab would decide the party's chief ministerial candidate. The party issued a number (7074870748) and asked Punjab's voters to reach out with their suggestions.
Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Harpal Singh Cheema of the AAP said on Monday that the party received 19 lakh responses in 96 hours. Over 6.5 lakh of these responses were sent via WhatsApp, nearly 2.25 lakh via voice message and another 8 lakh via voice call.
Punjab AAP chief Bhagwant Mann, who is also the Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur, is said to be one of the frontrunners in the race.
Arvind Kejriwal has stated on multiple occasions that he would not consider stepping down as the chief minister of Delhi if the AAP bags a majority in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.
Voting for elections to Punjab's 117-member assembly will be held in a single phase on February 20. Counting of votes is scheduled for March 10.