New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS) Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, who had joined the BJP less than a week back, will be the party's chief ministerial candidate in the Feb 7 Delhi assembly elections, taking on 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 in the December 2013 elections and now a union minister
Making the announcement after the meeting of party parliamentary board, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah expressed confidence that the decision will result in the party getting full majority.
"BJP parliamentary board has decided that the party will fight the forthcoming polls under leadership of Kiran Bedi. Kiranji will also be the chief ministerial candidate," Shah said at a late night press conference.
"I feel the name that the BJP has decided will meet the peoples' expectations and our decision will definitely lead to victory," he added.
Shah said that workers were feeling enthused since Bedi took membership of the party.
"It has raised their morale," he said. Bedi had joined the BJP Jan 15.
Shah dismissed suggestions that there were differences among party leaders over Bedi's projection as chief ministerial candidate.
"Every worker is one on this," he said.
The BJP's decision on naming Bedi, 65, as chief ministerial candidate came after feeling in the party leadership that it needed a credible local face to take on Kejriwal who has strong anti-corruption credentials. AAP finished close to BJP in the 2013 assembly poll.
The party's decision came just two days before the end of nomination process for the Feb 7 poll election to the 70 member assembly.
Bedi has been an anti-corruption activist, a former tennis player and her innings in Delhi Police is still widely remembered in the city. She initiated prison reforms in the Tihar Central Jail when she was heading it.
She has won the Ramon Magsaysay award, an honour she shares with Kejriwal. Both were part of the anti-corruption agitation led by Gandhian Anna Hazare.
Since her induction in the BJP, Bedi has talked about her priorities -- as a likely candidate to lead the party's campaign.
Asked about change in the stance of party as it had earlier said it will not project a chief ministerial candidate, Shah said that party had also projected chief ministerial candidates in states such as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
"There is an atmosphere. A decision is taken after taking into account all factors, the political factors," he said.
Before it took decision to induct Bedi and project a local face, the BJP in Delhi appeared to bank mainly on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Answering a query about Bedi being an outsider, Shah said that that party had provided platform to people from various fields and they had delivered successfully.
"The decision was taken with consensus. It has support of all," he said.
Shah said the party will continue to have tie-up with Shiromani Akali Dal in Delhi.
On Bedi, he said: "She has lived in Delhi throughout her life. She is a well-known name in the fight against corruption and in service of people."
Answering a query, he said that decision to field Bedi from Krishna Nagar, a "traditional seat" of the party, had been taken so that she could devote time to campaign in all the seats.
Pegasus espionage case will be investigated: Supreme Court forms expert committee, said – the government cannot get exemption every time in the name of national security
The Supreme Court has given its verdict on the petitions for investigation of the Pegasus espionage case. The court has constituted an expert committee to investigate the matter, which will work under
Why is China so annoyed with India, know the words of the expert - why are the military talks to be held tomorrow special?
Important military dialogue is going to take place between India and China on 12 January (Wednesday). Its purpose is to end the standoff on the border between the two countries. However, due to the
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness: Movie to be released in theaters on this date, see the new trailer
Marvel Studios' film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is all set to hit the screens. Apart from English, the film is being released in India in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada
Out of the team if Corona happened: BCCI players bluntly, said- whoever can escape from Covid, only he will go on England tour
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given strict instructions to the players visiting England. The board has said that if a player comes positive before leaving for England, he will
Krishna Abhishek danced to the song of Mama Govinda, Kapil Sharma shared the video and wrote this thing
These days Kapil Sharma has gone abroad for his show. Recently Kapil has performed. Now Kapil has left for Toronto. Meanwhile, Kapil has shared a video of Krishna Abhishek on his Instagram story. In
If the country has to be saved from the third wave of the corona, then the government should work on 5 strategies immediately, suggests PHDCCI
The uncontrollable pace of the second wave of Corona in the country has now stopped. Corona cases are decreasing daily in the country. Markets are being unlocked with relaxation in lockdown in most
5G spectrum services reached 50 cities in the country, 84 thousand organizations got recognition as startups
The government said on Wednesday that telecom service providers have started providing 5G services in the country from October 1, 2022, and by last month 5G services have started in 50 cities. In a
Corona Update: 10,715 new cases were found across the country, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of cases and West Bengal has the highest number of deaths.
There is a slight decrease in new cases of corona daily in the country. On Monday, 10,715 new cases were registered. 5,533 cases were found less as compared to the previous day. The death toll from
Possibility of war away from China; The good thing is that contacts at the political, diplomatic, and military levels are not yet broken.
'Yudham Pragya' is such a principle, which many times Indian forces are called to follow. It means 'fight with wisdom' and in particular it tells two things to future leaders. The first is that you
Modi to visit Turkey this year: Turkey ambassador
New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Turkish Ambassador to India Burak Akcapar said here on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Turkey this year and reiterated his country's commitment to a
