Delhi CM to visit Punjab next week

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal will visit Punjab next week. This will be his first visit to the northern state after the party’s loss in the assembly elections.

Sources said the AAP supremo will be in Amritsar on May 29 to attend a function being organised by the Indian Medical Association.

“There was a request for a stay of three to four days. However, since the CM is now focused on governance in the capital, he agreed to a one-day visit. During his stay he would also visit Golden Temple and Durgiana Temple in the city,” an AAP leader said.

The AAP faced electoral setback in Punjab, where the Kejriwal-led front was aiming to wrest power from the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine, even as it made its political debut in the assembly elections in the state. Punjab was the first major step of the party towards national expansion.

Though the party emerged as the principal opposition in the Punjab assembly with 22 seats, its seat tally fell short of its expectations as it was ‘confident’ of winning majority in the state assembly. Post the electoral loss, party’s Punjab unit is also witnessing an overhaul, with the party naming Member of Parliament Bhagwant Mann as its state convener.

Sources said Kejriwal will also be meeting party workers during his one-day stay in Amritsar.