Arvind Kejriwal woos Punjab voters

New Delhi, Jan 11: Kick starting the party campaign for the 2017 assembly elections in Punjab, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP's national convener Arvind Kejriwal today appealed the people to support the party and attend his upcoming rally at Mukstar.

Speaking in chaste Punjabi for the first time, Kejriwal invited the people of the state for his upcoming rally at Muktsar on Thursday. "Sat Sri Akal. I am Arvind Kejriwal speaking.

I am coming to meet you at Sri Muktsar Sahib Maghi Mela at 11 AM on January 14. Please come. I have lots to talk to you. One more thing, I love 'rewri' (a sweet) very much.

We will sit, eat together and chat," Kejriwal said in a message, which is being circulated on social media. AAP is putting a lot on stakes in Punjab, which will witness polls next year. The party will take on a resurgent Congress led by Captain Amarinder Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal combine, which is facing 10 years of anti-incumbency.

The party, which is yet to project any chief ministerial candidate, is banking on Kejriwal's image to wrest power in the state. In October, Kejriwal had visited Punjab, which was hit by protests due to desecration of Guru Granth Sahib.

The party has been raising its voice against the problem of drug addiction and farmers' suicide, alleged irregularities in buying pesticides etc.

After having made its presence felt in the state during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, AAP had recently made structural changes in the state unit, which irked many in the party.

AAP had opened its account in the state by winning four seats in the 2014 general elections. However, two of its state MPs -- Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa --were suspended on the charge of anti-party activities.

PTI