Arvind Kejriwal As INDIA Bloc's PM Face? After AAP Spokesperson Pitches For It, Minister Atishi Says Delhi CM Not In The Race

The chief national spokesperson of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Priyanka Kakkar, advocated for Arvind Kejriwal as the prime ministerial candidate for the opposition INDIA bloc on 30 August.

However, Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi later clarified that the Chief Minister does not have such aspirations.

According to Kakkar, Kejriwal has set a model as the Chief Minister of Delhi that can benefit the entire country.

These remarks were made a day before the INDIA alliance's meeting in Mumbai, where opposition leaders are expected to devise a joint campaign strategy to challenge the BJP-led NDA in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and resolve any differences among themselves.

"He has given a model that benefits the people. I would want it to happen (for Kejriwal to be the prime ministerial candidate), but the decision is not in my hands," the AAP's chief spokesperson said.

Gopal Rai, AAP's Delhi convener and Environment Minister, said that while every member of the party wishes for Kejriwal to hold the prime ministerial candidate post, just as "every party wants their leader to become prime minister," the final decision would be made by all members of the INDIA bloc.

"All members of the INDIA alliance will sit down and whatever the decision is, we will go accordingly," Rai said.

However, Atishi, another member of the AAP, said Kejriwal is not actively seeking the position of prime minister.

Addressing the comments made by Kakkar, which she referred to as personal views, the Delhi Cabinet Minister said, "I am making it official that Arvind Kejriwal is not in the race to become the Prime Minister of the country."

"He has joined the INDIA bloc to save the Constitution, democracy, and the country," Atishi said.

Last year, during an interview with PTI, Manish Sisodia, the senior leader of AAP and then deputy chief minister of Delhi, had expressed his support for Kejriwal as prime minister.

He had said that "One chance to Kejriwal" had become a national-level topic of discussion.

According to Sisodia, "people" view Kejriwal as a viable "alternative to (Narendra) Modi in 2024 because" of his focus on healthcare, education, and employment.