Arvind Kejriwal Tells Election Commission, I'm Brand Ambassador Material

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, often criticized for stretching himself too thin at the cost of governing the capital, is offering himself up for another job. Make me your Brand Ambassador, he wrote to the Election Commission today, which recently rebuked him for remarks made while campaigning in Goa.

Mr Kejriwal said that in fact, he should be allowed to repeat those comments because they pitch against corruption.

A few days ago, he told voters that they should accept freebies or money from the BJP and Congress, but cast their votes for his Aam Aadmi Party or AAP, which is for the first time seeking a shot at governing the coastal state.

The Election Commission asked Mr Kejriwal to explain why he was encouraging voters to accept money from politicians who want their support. "By stopping me to say what I am saying, the Election Commission is not stopping corruption, but encouraging it. I hope you (the EC) will re-examine this" the Chief Minister said.

"Through this comment, I am trying to stop bribery. In fact, the Election Commission should make me its brand ambassador," suggested his letter to Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi.

The Commission is unlikely to be amused. It had warned of strong action, including derecognition of AAP, if the Delhi Chief Minister repeated his comments. Mr Kejriwal held that not only are they worth repeating, but could serve well as advertising material. "If the Election Commission uses my statement and propagates it then in two years, political parties will stop distributing notes,"

Goa, like Punjab, votes on February 4.  Results will be shared, along with those from Uttarakhand, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh, on March 11.