Uttarakhand Assembly polls: Retd Col Ajay Kothiyal to be Aam Aadmi Party's CM face

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP), national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced the launch of election campaign for Uttarakhand Assembly polls and announced Colonel Ajay Kothiyal as the CM candidate for the party.

At a party function in Dehradun, Mr Kejriwal said the CM candidate's name was not selected by the party but the people nominated him.

Hailing Mr Kothiyal's contributions in the Indian Army, Mr Kejriwal said, “When the people were busy in corruption here, Mr Kothiyal was giving his service to the nation at the border."

“Since Uttarakhand was formed, the leaders of various political parties indulged in corruption and plundered the exchequer” he alleged.

Mr Kejriwal also remembered the Kedarnath tragedy, saying Mr Kothiyal and his team did an excellent job in the restoration of the temple.

Mr Kejriwal reached Dehradun on Monday, in a bid to expand his Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) base.

His visit is crucial in view of the Assembly elections in the state next year.

AAP had said that it will contest the elections and raise development issues as part of its poll campaign. (UNI)