Ready to be BJP CM candidate for Delhi, says Kiran Bedi

Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi on Wednesday indicated that she was willing to be the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate for Delhi.

BJP sources said there is a strong possibility of anointing Bedi as the party’s chief ministerial post. The speculations also triggered disquiet in party’s city unit.

“I no more rule out entering indian political service on capability basis. I am moving towards inflexibility in this,” she wrote on  twitter.

Asked about any invitation from the BJP to join the party, she told a TV channel: “If they ask me, then I will accept it. I had refused earlier when they asked, but now I will accept.”

She also batted for developing Delhi on the line of Gujarat model and urged the Delhiites to vote for BJP . “Time for ‘New Delhi to All Delhi’.’Gujarat Model-Delhi Model’ Let not a single vote go waste! Delhi must reap full rewards of Modisarkar!,” she added.

Bedi’s statements, however, triggered disquiet in the party’s state unit. A faction of senior party leaders, who were considered in the race for the successor of party’s former Chief Ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan, did not like the idea of anointing Bedi as party’s face for possible elections. Harsh Vardhan has been elected MP from Chandni Chowk area and his post in the party is lying vacant since May 16.

“Some senior leaders have expressed dissatisfaction over the speculations of Bedi’s anointment as Chief Ministerial candidate. They have registered their protest to the  high command,” said a Delhi BJP leader.

Sources say the “second line” leaders of the party are opposing any parachute candidate to contest election as party’s face.

“There are a lot of leaders who have spent their entire life serving the party. They have grown from grassroot level and had never left the party in bad times. They feel that the anointment of Bedi can demoralise the party’s grassroot level workers,” he added.