The satirist-turned-politician Bhagwant Mann was declared the chief ministerial candidate of the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab on January 18 after ‘phone-in polls’. AAP’s National Convener Arvind Kejriwal on January 13 had asked the people of Punjab to suggest names of their preferred chief ministerial candidates and launched a mobile number for the purpose.

Kejriwal also said that though he had wanted party Member of Parliament Mann’s name to be declared as the chief ministerial candidate, the latter insisted that the people of Punjab should make this decision. The party reportedly received 22 lakh responses in this campaign. After Kejriwal, the 48-year-old former comedian will be the second chief minister from the party.