NEW DELHI: A day after Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal asserted that Ramesh Bidhuri was Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial face for Delhi, the saffron party leader termed it “baseless” denying any claim to the post.
Calling it a “misleading propaganda” by Kejriwal, Bidhuri in an official statement said, “The party has given me a lot, I have no claim to any post. Shri Arvind Kejriwal has continuously started misleading propaganda regarding me. I want to clarify that I am not a contender for any post.”
“I am as dedicated to the people as I am to the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is completely baseless to talk about me for the post of chief minister. I will continue to work as your servant,” he added.
Continuing with his party’s “Sheeshmahal scam” attack on former Delhi CM, Bidhuri said, “Shri Arvind Kejriwal has accepted in my context by announcing that Bharatiya Janata Party government is coming in Delhi and he has accepted his defeat, because it is well known that there is widespread resentment against him among the people of Delhi. The public wants to get rid of liquor scam, education scam, health scam, Sheeshmahal scam including broken roads, dirty drinking water etc. The public wants that the Bharatiya Janata Party government should be formed once.”
The controversy unfolded when Anurag Thakur questioned if AAP had any “honest” CM face to offer to the people of Delhi. Responding to this, Kejriwal said that his party had unanimously chosen him for the top post long time back.
Further, the AAP leader, citing sources, went on to say that BJP had picked Bidhuri as their CM face and they would make an official announcement in a few days. He had also invited the “BJP CM candidate” to debate on issues being faced by Delhiites.
“There must be a public debate between BJP’s CM candidate and other parties including us. He must explain what he has done for the capital in past 10 years. Public should know their vision for Delhi, what they have done for Delhi and what is their roadmap for the city’s progress,” he had said.
The statement was condemned by home minister Amit Shah who questioned whether Kejriwal was authorized to make such an announcement. “Today, Kejriwal announced BJP’s CM face. Can Kejriwal announce BJP’s CM face? Should Kejriwal announce BJP’s CM face?” he had said.
Bidhuri is contesting in Delhi assembly elections from Kalka ji. The national capital is set to go to polls on February 5 and the votes would be counted on February 8.