NEW DELHI : Kiran Bedi’s sudden entry into BJP and her possible projection as its chief ministerial candidate is meeting with dissent within the party with its West Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari, saying she is just a worker as of now and that the “best option” would be to project Narendra Modi as the party’s face in the campaign.
Sources in the party said a number of senior Delhi BJP leaders were also not happy over the way Bedi has been projecting herself as the chief ministerial choice just four days after her induction into the party.
“She has joined the party. She is like a party worker and she should be taken that way, ” Tiwari told reporters.
He had earlier said a ‘thanedaar’ or policeman was not welcome but later clarified that the remarks were not aimed at Bedi.
Another senior Delhi BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi, who is known to have chief ministerial ambition, said a decision on whether to project a candidate for the top post or announce the name after the polls will be taken by the leadership.
“BJP’s central leadership always takes the decision. It is in their purview to decided who shall be the chief minister candidate or whether the party will have a CM face or not,” he said when asked about the issue.
The MP said the party leadership will take a call on the chief ministerial candidate and that Bedi was not BJP’s candidate for the post for now.
“The strategy of the party in elections in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra has been that the country has chosen Modi ji for five years and expectations of people will only be fulfilled if the same party rules in Centre as well as in states,” he said, adding “Chalo chalein Modi ke sath” would be the best option for the party.
Sources said a number of Delhi BJP leaders were unhappy over the way Bedi has been projecting herself as BJP’s CM candidate since she was inducted into the party on Thursday.
They said a number of party MPs were also upset the way Bedi asked them to join her for tea yesterday to discuss the party’s election strategy.
“She is a newcomer to party but we are surprised the way she has been projecting herself as BJP’s chief ministerial nominee,” said a senior leader.
65-year-old Bedi was accorded a grand welcome as she joined the party in presence of BJP chief Amit Shah and Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Harsh Vardhan among others.
Asked about any rift in the party, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said there was “no discontent”.
“We can categorically state that every one in BJP, the rank and cadre of Delhi and the people of Delhi are really happy about the fact that the great administrator, the first lady IPS officer of India Kiran Bedi ji has joined BJP.
“We are seeing that every BJP leader is meeting Kiran Bedi ji, smiling, exchanging bouquets and this is what happens. Where does anyone read any kind of discontent? There is no absolutely no discontent,” he said.
Meanwhile, AAP leader Ashutosh said the way Bedi has been forced onto BJP has caused a major rift among senior party leaders. (AGENCIES)
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