New Delhi, Jan 20: Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, who had joined the BJP but a week back, will be the party’s chief ministerial candidate within the Feb seven Delhi assembly elections, absorbing her former anti-corruption stir colleague Arvind Kejriwal of the AAP.
She will contest from Krishna Nagar seat in east Delhi. it was earlier held by Harsh Vardhan, the chief ministerial candidate within the Dec 2013 elections and currently a union minister
Making the announcement when the meeting of party parliamentary board, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah expressed confidence that the choice can lead to the party obtaining full majority.
“BJP parliamentary board has determined that the party can fight the forthcoming polls below leadership of Kiran Bedi. Kiranji will be the chief ministerial candidate,” Shah aforesaid at a late night conference.
“I feel the name that the BJP has determined can meet the peoples’ expectations and our call will certainly result in triumph,” he added.
Shah aforesaid that staff were feeling enthused since Bedi took membership of the party.
“It has raised their morale,” he said. Bedi had joined the BJP Jan fifteen.
Shah discharged suggestions that there have been variations among party leaders over Bedi’s projection as chief ministerial candidate.
“Every employee is one on this,” he said.
The BJP’s call on naming Bedi, 65, as chief ministerial candidate came when feeling within the party leadership that it required a reputable native face to require on Kejriwal who has robust anti-corruption credentials. AAP finished near BJP within the 2013 assembly poll.
The party’s call came simply 2 days before the tip of nomination method for the Feb seven poll election to the seventy member assembly.
Bedi has been an anti-corruption activist, a former athlete and her innings in Delhi Police continues to be wide remembered within the town. She initiated jail reforms within the Tihar Central Jail once she was heading it.
She has won the Ramon Magsaysay award, an honour she shares with Kejriwal. each were a part of the anti-corruption agitation led by Gandhian Anna Hazare.
Since her induction within the BJP, Bedi has talked concerning her priorities — as a possible candidate to guide the party’s campaign.
Asked concerning modification within the stance of party because it had earlier aforesaid it’ll not project a chief ministerial candidate, Shah aforesaid that party had additionally projected chief ministerial candidates in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
“There is an environment. a choice is taken when taking under consideration all factors, the political factors,” he said.
Before it took call to induct Bedi and project a local face, the BJP in Delhi seemed to bank chiefly on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Answering a question concerning Bedi being an outsider, Shah aforesaid that that party had provided platform to people from numerous fields and they had delivered with success.
“The call was smitten accord. it’s support of all,” he said.
Shah aforesaid the party can still have tie-up with Shiromani Akali dal in Delhi.
On Bedi, he said: “She has lived in Delhi throughout her life. She may be a well-known name within the fight against corruption and in commission of people.”
Answering a question , he aforesaid that call to field Bedi from Krishna Nagar, a “traditional seat” of the party, had been taken so she might devote time to campaign altogether the seats.