SHIMLA: Riding high on its landslide victory in the assembly elections in Punjab, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has roped in ultra-marathon runner Sunil Sharma for the elections in Himachal Pradesh.
Along with his four ‘friends’, Sharma was formally inducted into the party in presence of Delhi Health Minister and AAP election in-charge for Himachal, Satyendar Jain on Tuesday.
Sharma, a famed Himachali athlete ran 1480-km from Delhi to Mumbai in The Great India Run in 2016 and completed a 250-km run from Chandigarh to Delhi in 38 hours 25 minutes, as part of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padao campaign.
Stating that his associates had joined the AAP to work for the youth and sportspersons, he pointed out Himachal Chief Minister Jairam Thakur had neglected athletes and had only propagated cricket and rafting.
“This battle is not just for me but the entire youth of the country that has been ongoing for the last 6 years. This has compelled me to join the party so that the youth could get a platform”, Sharma said.
Speaking on the occasion, Jain said that Sharma and his friends had joined the party as they were “inspired” by Arvind Kejriwal and his model of governance.