Kejriwal to address rallies on August 16, 18; senior leaders to camp in city from Aug 10 onwards

While senior leaders of the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal have kick-started their campaign for the Patiala Urban bypoll and are camping in the city, third contender Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is all set to introduce their national leaders into the campaign from next week.

While senior leaders of the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal have kick-started their campaign for the Patiala Urban bypoll and are camping in the city, third contender Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is all set to introduce their national leaders into the campaign from next week.

However, AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to address rallies in the city on August 16 and 18. He is set to visit Talwandi Sabo on August 17.

Lagging behind the traditional competitors-SAD and Congress- the AAP's campaigning is yet to gain momentum as senior leaders including Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi remained absent from the scene ever since party candidate Harjit Singh Adalatiwala filed his nomination on August 1.

When asked about their lacklustre campaign, Adalatiwala denied it and said that senior leaders will be campaigning for him in the coming days.

As per available information, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia will be in Patiala on August 10-11, while member of AAP's core committee Sanjay Singh will visit on August 13-14 and Yogendra Yadav on August 14.

"All these leaders have confirmed the dates and the campaign will receive a fillip once they step in," Adalatiwala said.

He also said Dr Gandhi will be campaigning from Thursday onwards, while Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann will canvass after August 8.