Kejriwal formally invites Sheila Dikshit for public debate

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal has sent a formal invitation to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit inviting her for an open public debate. "I have sent a formal proposal to Sheila Dikshit for a public debate, but it must happen in public, not in any TV studio," said Kejriwal. "Why is Sheila Dikshit is scared of a debate? Harshvardhan (BJP`s chief ministerial candidate), she and I can debate, not in a TV studio, but among people," Kejriwal added. Kejriwal’s official invitation to the Delhi CM came days after she told a TV news channel that she was ready for a debate with the AAP leader if he formally writes to her. She had said, “I am not shy of a political debate. I have debated with Sushma Swaraj in the past. Public debates are healthy in a democracy." Dikshit’s response came after Kejriwal dared her for a public debate with him on the issues relating to "inflated" power and water bills and women`s safety among others. Well, it would be interesting to see the veteran Delhi CM getting engaged in a verbal duel with Kejriwal, the former RTI activist and now a politician. Dikshit, who is eyeing an unprecedented fourth successive term in upcoming Assembly polls, admitted recently that Kejriwal has caught the people`s imagination to a certain extent. Kejriwal, 45, whose won the Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership for his campaign to get the Right to Information law passed in India, has announced his candidature from New Delhi Assembly constituency, which has been electing Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. AAP has decided to field candidates in all 70 constituencies. The party had last week claimed it was on course to form the next government in Delhi. AAP had come out with a survey which showed the party was leading in 33 of 70 assembly seats in capital. The party has been attacking Delhi government on a number of issues including power and water tariff and alleged corruption. Delhi Asembly elections will be held in the national capital Dec 4 with over 11.5 million voters eligible to cast their ballots in 70 constituencies.