Kejriwal taken ill in Mumbai; to skip Vidarbha rally

Arvind Kejriwal has decided to skip his Aam Admi Party's scheduled rally in Vidarbaha on Thursday due to ill health.

However, he is expected to travel to Nagpur to attend a fund-raising dinner at a luxury hotel, where the price tag is reportedly Rs 10,000 per person.

"Arvindji is unwell. The hectic schedule in Mumbai on Wednesday has left him very exhausted. Doctors are examining him," AAP spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon told PTI on Thursday.

Kejriwal was scheduled to leave for Nagpur on Thursday morning but may leave by evening, she said.

"He is suffering from severe chest congestion and asthma. As a result of these developments, he won't be able to attend the Chandrapur rally in Vidarbha today," she said.

Kejriwal kicked off his Lok Sabha campaign in Maharashtra on Wednesday with a ride on a suburban train. His tour was marked by chaos and vandalism amid complaints of discomfort to commuters. Workers of Aam Aadmi Party were accused of vandalising station property at Churchgate where Kejriwal rode by a train from Andheri.

He then took out a 'Jhaadu Chalao Yatra' through Mumbai streets along with AAP Lok Sabha nominees Medha Patkar and Meera Sanyal, before attending a private fund-raising meeting, after which he began another road show traversing South Mumbai.

Image: Arvind Kejriwal waves to his supporters during a road show in South Mumbai on Wednesday

Photograph: Sahil Salve