Former Law Minister and founder-member of the Aam Aadmi Party Shanti Bhushan on Thursday praised BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi and said projecting her was a “masterstroke.”
“It is a masterstroke by the BJP to bring Kiran Bediji and declare her the party’s CM candidate. The BJP recognised the force of Anna Hazare’s andolan and was forced to bring as CM candidate a crusader against corruption,” said Mr. Bhushan, adding, “She will provide clean and effective administration.”
'Kejriwal third in race'
Mr. Bhushan ranked AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal as the third choice for Delhi Chief Minister, below BJP’s Kiran Bedi and Congress leader Ajay Maken. He questioned Mr. Kejriwal’s leadership and selection of candidates for the Assembly elections, besides openly advocating his removal as convenor.
Taking a dig at the AAP, Mr. Bhushan said all is not well within the party and its leaders should be happy that their erstwhile colleague could become the chief minister of Delhi. “This [AAP] is a party which was born out of a crusade against corruption, so if a member [Kiran Bedi] becomes the chief minister, it’s a reason to be happy,” he said.
While Ms. Bedi thanked her former colleague for endorsing her, Mr. Kejriwal chose to maintain a diplomatic stand saying in a democracy everybody had the right to express his feelings.
Mr. Bhushan failed to garner support at home with his son and AAP leader Prashant Bhushan distancing himself from his remarks. “I don’t agree [with my father],’’ he told The Hindu.
