New Delhi: Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur, Bhagwant Mann has been announced as the Chief Minister candidate from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming Punjab assembly election 2022.
AAP National Convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while announcing Bhagwant Mann's name said: "More than 21 lakh people from Punjab participated and opined in the drive to determine AAP's CM face for the state."
"Other parties in the state have been appointing their kids or relatives as CM candidate for Punjab in the past. If I would have picked and announced Bhagwant Mann as the chief ministerial candidate, people would have accused me of nepotism as well," he said.
Kejriwal said 93.3% of people, who voted and called, registered Bhagwant Mann as their Chief Minister's face.
A former comedian, Mann is currently a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha from Sangrur constituency.
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So far the Aam Aadmi Party has announced 109 candidates for the 117 seat Assembly of the state. The party has fielded Dr Charanjit Singh against Congress member and Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi from the Chamkaur Sahib constituency.
Dr Balveer Singh has been fielded from Patiala which is the home ground of former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh.
Assembly elections in Punjab are scheduled to take place on February 20.
Earlier, the Election Commission had announced the date of February 14 for the polling but several political parties urged the Commission to reschedule the single-phase election in view of Guru Ravidas Jayanti.