Wanted iconic face with good influence on people: Jaitley on Kiran Bedi as BJP's CM nominee

New Delhi: Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi has been chosen to be the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate as the party wanted an “iconic face” who has a positive influence over Delhiites as its nominee for the top job in New Delhi, Union minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday.

“We wanted an iconic face who has a positive influence over the people of Delhi. So our party agreed on Bedi and I was told to talk to her on BJP’s behalf,” he said at a rally in Moti Nagar. “There is a perception about Bedi that she is committed to her work and that once she starts on something, she fulfils her duty,” he added.

“Bedi asked me why we have chosen her and I gave her the same answer, following which she agreed (to join the party),” said the Union Finance Minister.

“Our party has been looking for such individuals who can leave a good imprint on the public. There are so many army generals, IPS officers and economists who keep on joining BJP,” he said.

Repeating the party’s “anarchist” barb on AAP, Jaitley asked the voters whether they would prefer a Cabinet “which will spend half its time in the Secretariat and the rest on the roads doing dharnas”.

Would Delhiites prefer a government led by those who had “even threatened to disrupt the 26 January parade”, asked Jaitley. Referring to Congress, Jaitley said that the party is nowhere in these elections.

Meanwhile, urging the people to come out and vote in large numbers on polling day, Jaitley asserted that a good turnout would help BJP emerge victorious.

“You should turn up in large numbers to cast your vote because if the voting percentage is high, chances of BJP candidates winning by large margins is higher,” he said.

PTI