New Delhi, Jan 16 (IANS) Former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi Friday joined the BJP "for the rest of my life" after lavishing praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A day after former police officer Kiran Bedi formally joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, it was the turn of Ilmi, who broke ranks some time ago with Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal.
"There is indeed a new political discourse in the country, and we must all be a part of it," the journalist-turned-politician told the media in the company of Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay.
She admitted she had had differences with the BJP and the Congress in the past.
"But in the last six months I have realized that the prime minister is doing a good job. The way he invoked Mahatma Gandhi's name for the Swacch Bharat (Clean India) campaign is very impressive," she said.
Ilmi had contested - and narrowly lost - the December 2013 assembly elections on AAP ticket.
Once close to Kejriwal, Ilmi was reportedly unhappy that the AAP fielded her in the Lok Sabha elections of 2014 from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh where she finished a distant fifth.
Ilmi earlier called on BJP president Amit Shah. She said she expected "nothing" from the BJP.
"You can ask Amit Bhai and others. I have not asked for anything," she said. "It is an opportunity to serve my city and nation."
Ilmi further said that it was her decision to not fight the election and she hoped that the party will respect that.
"However, I am ready to take up any responsibility that the party gives me," she added.
Along with Ilmi, music director Anand Raaj Anand too joined the party.
Labour Party becoming 'Too Nervous', says Amartya Sen
Kolkata, Feb 8 (IANS) Britain's Labour Party has become "too nervous" in its approach, Nobel la
Afghanistan Bomb Blast: There has been a big bomb blast in a Shia mosque in Kunduz, Afghanistan.
At present, the matter of the sudden death of actress Malaika Arora's father Anil Mehta is in the
Four kids burnt to death in Ghaziabad car blast
Ghaziabad, March 8 (IANS) Four children were burnt to death in Ghaziabad when fire crackers kept
Toddler tests positive, coronavirus infections rise to six in Kerala
कोच्चि में तीन साल की एक बच्ची के परी
World Cup: England elect to bowl against Australia
Melbourne, Feb 14 (IANS) England captain Eoin Morgan won
Weather Update Today: Due to the rains in many states of the country in the past, the weather has
PM Modi did the virtual launch of the Amrit Mahotsav at the Abroad Brahmakumari Sansthan. Chief M
Since the beginning of August, there has been continuous monsoon rain in Delhi-NCR. This month, t
The Indian Air Force got its Bahubali today, ie on Thursday, during the escalating conflict betwe
