Arvind Kejriwal had termed the Punjab polls of 2017 as a "dharma-yuddha".
A day after Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia's comment fuelled speculation of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal moving to Punjab, the AAP chief clarified that the party's CM candidate will be someone from the state itself.
"The chief minister of Punjab will be from the state itself," Mr Kejriwal said at a public meeting in Patiala's Badshapur.
"Whoever will be the Punjhab chief minister, it will be my personal responsibility that all promises made by AAP are fulfilled," he added.
Rumours of Mr Kejriwal being the AAP's CM candidate in Punjab intensified after Manish Sisodia, Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister, addressed a rally in Mohali yesterday and said, "When you are voting, think that you are voting to make Arvind Kejriwal chief minister. Whatever we promise, Mr Kejriwal will make sure they are fulfilled."
On being asked by reporters about the possibility, Mr Sisodia added, "Why are you asking me? MLAs will decide."
AAP's political opponents quickly reacted to Mr Sisodia's statement.
Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed that the AAP does not trust Punjabis.
"By asking people to vote for Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister of Punjab, Manish Sisodia has exposed their plan. AAP has proven it does not trust Punjabis," the state's Deputy Chief Minister tweeted.
Punjab Congress chief and former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh too described Mr Kejriwal as a "sneaky little fellow" in an interview to NDTV.
Earlier, Mr Kejriwal had termed the assembly polls in Goa and Punjab, scheduled for February 4, as a
"dharma-yuddha".(with inputs from PTI)