Bhagwant Mann is AAP's CM face for Punjab polls
Of the over 21 lakh votes 93.3 per cent were in Mann’s favour
image for illustrative purpose
Chandigarh: Bhagwant Mann will be the AAP's chief ministerial face for the February 20 Punjab Assembly polls, the party announced on Tuesday. The Sangrur MP assured people that he will work for their welfare and put the State back on its feet again if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is voted to power.
Polling for Punjab's 117 Assembly seats is scheduled to be held on February 20 and the counting of votes will be taken up on March 10. The wait for the AAP's declaration of its chief ministerial face got over on Tuesday when its national convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced the results of the party's "Janta Chunegi Apna CM" drive, in which it had asked the people of Punjab who should be its choice for the top post. The AAP had launched a mobile number on January 13, on which people were asked to give their opinion till 5 pm on January 17. The party received over 21.59 lakh responses under the campaign, Kejriwal, who arrived from Delhi to make the announcement, said.
A comedian-turned-politician, Mann (48) is a two-time MP from Sangrur and is the AAP's Punjab unit chief. Addressing reporters at Mohali, Kejriwal said the party received 21,59,437 votes in response to the "Janta Chunegi Apna CM" drive. "Many people gave my name too. I had earlier said that I am not in the race and we declared these votes as invalid. Of the remaining votes, 93.3 per cent were in Mann's favour," he said.
Kejriwal had recently said his preference for the top post was also Mann. On the second spot was Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who got 3.6 per cent votes, the Delhi chief minister added. "Bhagwant Mann is officially declared as the AAP's chief ministerial face," he said. Celebrations erupted among the party workers present at the venue after the announcement.
Kejriwal hugged Mann and turned emotional. Mann's mother and sister were also present on the occasion. AAP leaders Raghav Chadha and Harpal Singh Cheema were also present at the event. A video clip on events connected to Mann's life and his political journey so far was played on the occasion.
