Kejriwal to contest from New Delhi

AAP chief and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will again contest the upcoming assembly elections from the New Delhi constituency, the party said Wednesday.

Kejriwal defeated three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit in 2013 by over 26,000 votes. He then headed a minority government for 49 days.

Kejriwal's name figured in the fifth list of eight candidates announced by the Aam Aadmi Party.

Asked about the delay in declaring his name, AAP leader Manish Sisodia said: "We had already decided that Arvind would contest from New Delhi. In fact we were not in hurry."

Sisodia told IANS that Kejriwal might contest from another seat if its arch-rival Bharatiya Janata Party declares its chief ministerial candidate.

The BJP, which is yet to declare its candidates for the polls, has decided to contest under the collective leadership.

The AAP has so far declared 59 candidates for elections expected to be held in February. Delhi elects 70 legislators.

Of the 59, six former AAP ministers, including Sisodia, have got the ticket. Besides, it has also fielded its candidates for the recent Lok Sabha polls.