Infighting within the Delhi BJP came out in the open on Monday when its MP from North-East Delhi Manoj Tiwari took a jibe at new entrant Kiran Bedi by saying “Delhi needs a leader, not a thanedar”. Hours after his controversial remark, the BJP top brass pulled up Tiwari for speaking against the former IPS office, who is most likely its chief ministerial candidate for upcoming polls.
Tiwari had earlier said that Kiran Bedi has joined the BJP only as a party worker and there was no decision on her being projected as the CM candidate. However, after being pulled up by the top brass, Tiwari toned down his voice of dissent. “All these reports are completely wrong, we are very happy that Kiran Bedi has joined BJP, we welcome her,” said Manoj Tiwari.
Earlier on Monday, Tiwari had said that Kiran Bedi is a “party worker” and she should behave accordingly, adding that the Capital needed a leader, not a thanedar (cop). “I didn’t like the way she spoke to BJP workers a few days ago. I wasn’t there... but this is the feedback I’ve got from workers. She should be humble, she has been brought on as a BJP worker. She is not the chief ministerial candidate so far,” he further added.
Following his comments on Bedi, sources said, the Minister was summoned by senior BJP leaders for voicing his dissent after an upset Kiran Bedi called the party leadership.
The Pioneer had earlier reported that a number of senior Delhi BJP leaders were also not happy over the way Bedi has been projecting herself as the chief ministerial choice just four days after her induction into the party. Another senior Delhi BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi, who is known to have chief ministerial ambition, said a decision on whether to project a candidate for the top post or announce the name after the polls will be taken by the leadership.
“BJP’s Central leadership always takes the decision. It is in their purview to decided who shall be the Chief Minister candidate or whether the party will have a CM face or not,” Mukhi said when asked about the issue.
“The strategy of the party in elections in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra has been that the country has chosen Modi for five years and expectations of people will only be fulfilled if the same party rules in Centre as well as in states,” he said, adding Chalo Chalein Modi Ke Saath would be the best option for the party.