Kejriwal formally invites Dikshit for a public debate

Aam Admi Party's (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, formally inviting her for a public debate ahead of the Dec 4 assembly elections in the national capital.

Kejriwal said he was informed by some journalists that the Delhi chief minister may agree for a debate if a formal proposal was sent to her, which, he said, prompted him to write her a letter Oct 23.

"I formally invite you for a public debate," wrote Kejriwal.

"And if you want, we can also invite Harsh Vardhan (BJP's newly appointed chief ministerial candidate) for the debate," he added.

Kejriwal said the debate should not take place in a TV studio, but at a public place so that people from all over the capital could listen to the participants and ask questions directly.

"I would suggest that the debate takes place in Ramlila Maidan or any other public place so that the people get an opportunity to raise questions," wrote Kejriwal.

"We can sit together and work out the finer details for the debate," he added.

Delhi will see a three-way contest in the assembly elections between the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the newly floated AAP.

The Congress has ruled Delhi since 1998, and it is confident of winning another five-year term. The BJP is equally confident of ending the 15-year reign of Dikshit.