Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced a complete revamp of the Kali Devi temple complex in Patiala. The move is being seen as an attempt to connect with Hindu voters ahead of the Ludhiana (West) Assembly bypoll on June 19.
Kejriwal, who was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, said a master plan for the temple is being prepared with expert input. It will focus on heritage preservation, pilgrim services, sanitation, parking, and traffic management.
He added that the main hall for devotees will be fully air-conditioned to provide comfort for senior citizens, women, children, and the differently abled.
The leaders said the goal is to make Kali Devi Mandir one of the most beautiful shrines in the country. Plans include reopening and renovating the back gate for better crowd flow and restoring all entrances to preserve the temple’s architecture. Continuous water supply and regular desilting of the temple’s sacred pool were also promised.
Currently, the temple sees around 25,000 daily visitors, with numbers rising to 1 lakh on Saturdays and 1.5 lakh during Navratras. The temple houses a six-foot idol of the goddess, a sacred flame from Bengal, and a historic shrine of Shri Raj Rajeshwari ji, a form of Shakti.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal and Mann laid the foundation stone of the Maharaja Agrasen Darbar at Nabha. Kejriwal promised trader-friendly reforms and industrial investments, stating that dedicated trader boards would be formed at both state and district levels.
Mann criticised previous governments for Punjab’s decline in per capita income, stating that the state, once a leader, now ranks 17th. He praised Maharaja Agrasen as a symbol of unity and a promoter of a welfare-based economy.
Kejriwal also called Agrasen a peace-loving, visionary leader who created systems to support the economically weaker sections of society.
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