BJP attracting female members a healthy sign: Tharoor

Kolkata, Jan 15 (IANS) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Thursday termed it a "healthy sign" that the BJP was finally inducting female members, after former IPS officer Kiran Bedi joined the party, but said attracting new faces was not a great achievement for a party that would in power for five years.

Bedi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party Thursday, ahead of the Feb 7 Delhi assembly election. There was speculation that Jaya Prada could follow suit.

"I am pleased that the BJP is finally making room for the right gender as well because this was a very male dominant government, male dominating party... so that's a healthy sign," he said answering a query from the audience while launching his new book "India Shastra" here.

"Kiran (Bedi) was always inclined.. so that was just a matter of time. Jaya Prada... well I hate to say this, she has been a socialist for many years and did come knocking on the doors of the Congress.

"How a person with Samajwadi beliefs can find a comfortable room in the BJP is something... no doubt she will be called upon to explain," Tharoor said at the Apeejay Kolkata Literary Festival.

The former union minister, however, said parties which were not doing so well as the BJP and can take in fresh faces despite being in the "doldrums" should be lauded.

"I don't mean to be excessively cynical but for any party that is in the government with an assured majority of five years, to attract new faces should not be seen as a stunningly difficult accomplishment.

"I think that parties which attract new members when they are in doldrums and can retain their members should be applauded," he said.

"There is a difference in the BJP taking in new people and parties that are not doing so well taking in new people," Tharoor said, adding that fresh faces have joined the Congress too.