The BJP has got its “crusader” to take on AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal in its faceless battle for Delhi. Former IPS officer and team Anna Hazare member Kiran Bedijoined BJP on Thursday.
Party president Amit Shah confirmed that Bedi will contest the February 7 election, though he said a decision on her constituency will be taken later. He also made it clear that the party’s parliamentary board will decide on the chief ministerial candidate, when asked if Bedi would be the party’s choice.
However, Bedi, flanked by Shah and finance minister Arun Jaitley, laid out her vision for Delhi saying it needed a strong-headed and stable government. “I know how to work and how to get work done. Dilli ko desh ka dil baneyenge (will make Delhi the heart of the country). We will ensure that Delhi gets a corruption-free government,” she said. She had driven to the party office with Shah after meeting prime minister Narendra Modi.
Bedi said she joined the BJP because of Modi’s “inspirational leadership” and was grateful to him for “reposing faith in me”. She also drove home the point that she had taken VRS when she was “overlooked” for the job of police commissioner as “the job was not challenging enough…. And time was precious.”
The development comes amidst charges levelled by Kejriwal against BJP chief Satish Upadhyay that he had a nexus with firms providing power discoms. In Bedi, the BJP has found a credible anti-corruption face to lead the party’s campaign against Kejriwal. Shah and Jaitley said Bedi’s induction will strengthen the party.
