New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi Tuesday apologised to her party for letting it down after she lost from a constituency seen as a 'safe seat' by the party, but demonstrated her ignorance about the city by admitting how she discovered during the campaign the yawning gap between the haves and have-nots.
Bedi, who served Delhi as an Indian Police Service officer at various levels and took voluntary retirement while she was director of the Bureau of Police Research and Development, also admitted she got to know Delhi only after she started her campaign.
She said her constituency Krishna Nagar, which has had former BJP chief ministerial candidate and now union minister Harsh Vardhan as its legislator since the first Delhi election in 1993, was dirty and needed at least a month just for cleaning.
She admitted her lack of knowledge about Delhi, and said the campaigning gave her a chance to know the city.
"I am very happy I got to do this, because this showed me the real situation of Delhi. I was troubled with what I saw... the divide between urban rich and urban poor... There is a mammoth gap," she said.
In a strange admission, she also said she was not charged "even a rupee" for fighting the election, adding that it was "rare" that this happened.
"They (BJP) did not take even a rupee for making me the chief ministerial candidate... this is rare that a party gives you candidature and does not take even a rupee," Bedi said, while thanking the BJP for giving her the opportunity.
Bedi's entry as the chief ministerial candidate days before the election had left many unhappy in the party.
She, however, thanked party workers and leaders for their "affection" and apologised for letting them down, and said she will continue to be a part of the BJP.
Taking the entire responsibility for the defeat, Bedi said: "PM (Narendra Modi) was not the CM candidate, I was. I take full responsibility."
"I want to thank the BJP leadership which reposed trust in me. I apologise to every worker of the party, I could not fulfill their expectation," she said.
Minutes later, the former police officer in response to a question retorted: "I have not lost... let the BJP assess (why they lost), they are a national cadre-based party. I have not lost, I gave my very best."
Bedi lost the Krishna Nagar constituency to a little known lawyer, S.K. Bagga, by 2,277 votes.
Himachal to take up Pong Dam oustees' issue with Rajasthan
Nagrota Surian (Himachal Pradesh), Feb 17 (IANS) Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Tuesday said th
Would not have heard such an offer on Smart Watch! 75% off on launch
Fire-Boltt Smart Watch On Amazon: Another best deal has come for smartwatch buyers. Fire-Bolt Tal
NJAC Act is still-born: Nariman tells SC
New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) The Supreme Court was told on Thursday that the National Judicial App
Corona returned to China again: Lockdown in Lanzhou, order to imprison 40 lakh population in homes
Coronavirus infection is increasing in many parts of China. Because of this, the Chinese governme
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, while advocating three children for a couple, said that in a society in
In the CBI case related to the excise policy scam, the Rouse Avenue Court has extended the judici
Uber rape case: HC to hear accused's plea to recall witnesses Tuesday
New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Tuesday will hear rape-accused Uber cab driver Sh
PM Modi Assam Visit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Assam today i.e. on 14 April. During
Gujarat: PM Modi will gift Bhuj, today will inaugurate KK Patel Super Specialty Hospital
PM Narendra Modi is going to give a big gift to Bhuj of Gujarat today. Modi will inaugurate KK Pa
Court orders ban on former Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa leaving the country
Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the country amid the political turmoil in Sri Lanka, but
