The BJP declared former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as their Chief Ministerial candidate in Delhi. (Press Trust of India)
The Aam Aadmi Party on Monday said BJP has made Kiran Bedi the Chief Minsterial candidate so that she could be made scapegoat if the party is defeated in the elections.
The AAP said Dr Bedi was not a challenge to AAP and BJP's choice will have an adverse effect on its rank and file.
"BJP has made Kiran Bedi the Chief Ministerial candidate so that she could be made a scapegoat as the party was not confident of its victory because of AAP growing popularity and increasing support base. Bedi is not a challange for AAP," senior AAP leader Somnath Bharti said after Dr Bedi's name was announced a Parliamentary Party meeting of the BJP.
Brushing aside murmurs of dissent, BJP today named new entrant Kiran Bedi, a former IPS officer, as its Chief Ministerial candidate for the Delhi Assembly elections.
Making the announcement after a meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board, party President Amit Shah said the decision of fielding 65-year-old Bedi was "unanimous".
He said BJP will contest the crucial polls for the 70-member Assembly under Bedi's leadership.
She will contest from the Krishna Nagar seat in East Delhi, considered a BJP stronghold.
The Parliamentary Board meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj among others.