Punjab elections: Kejriwal rubbishes Sisodia's 'chief minister' remark

Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal quashed rumours that he is the chief ministerial candidate of India's northern state of Punjab should his party win the regional elections next month.

The rebuttal comes a day after Delhi's deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia urged the people of Mohali to vote assuming Kejriwal would become the chief minister -- a statement was excoriated by rival parties.

During the campaign trail in Patiala on Wednesday, Indian Express quoted Kejriwal as saying: "“How can I be the chief minister of Punjab when I am the chief minister of Delhi? The CM of Punjab will be from Punjab.”

But he vowed to the gathered public that he would ensure all election promises would be fulfilled by whoever is appointed as the next helmer of the state. 

Punjab state, which has an estimated population of 28 million, is set to vote on February 4.

Sisodia's remark had put AAP on the backfoot after rival parties accused them of betraying the voters of Punjab. 

Shiromani Akali Sal leader and Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said that if Kejriwal was to become the chief minister, it would demonstrate that AAP "had no trust in Punjabis".

Congress leader and Kejriwal's arch enemy Amarinder Singh posted a scathing tweet: "After months of beating around the bush, truth of Arvind Kejriwal and his nefarious ambitions comes out! What a sneaky little fellow!”

Aam Aadmi Party, however, has yet to announce the chief ministerial candidate of Punjab.

But party insiders told NDTV that Kejriwal would not relinquish Delhi to become the chief minister of Punjab.

(WION)