Two days after Kiran Bedi was named the Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial candidate and rival factions protested at the party’s Pant Marg office over ticket distribution, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay wrote to his party cadre appealing for support and hard work to ensure that the party is victorious in the city.
In a letter dated January 22, he appeals to party workers to set aside their differences and complaints and give everything they can to achieving victory in the Delhi polls. “I appeal that you put in all your strength, perseverance and hard work and help Delhi stand in support of Modiji. To aid us in this quest, the top leadership has chosen an honest and straightforward woman, Kiran Bedi…”
Further, Mr. Upadhyay asks party worker to not sit idle till February 7 and “put aside all complaints and stand in support of your great leader, or else we would have to repent for missing such an opportunity”. “It is the call of the country, demand of time. Hope you would understand my prayers and request and respect the will of the nation.”
Responding to a question on whether the letter indicated factions within the party ranks over Ms. Bedi’s elevation, Union Urban Development Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said that it was normal for the president of a State unit to write and exhort his workers to work harder especially during election time.
The opposition Aam Aadi Party, however, termed the development as affirmation to their assessment that after announcement of Kiran Bedi as the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, the party workers are no more interested in working for the party.
“The letter vindicates our claim that the BJP is a divided House. We had earlier said that by announcing Kiran Bedi as their CM face, the BJP has scored a self goal,” said AAP leader Manish Sisodia.
