Rift wide open in Delhi BJP

New Delhi: The rift within BJP over Kiran Bedi’s selection as the chief ministerial candidate in Delhi was witnessed on Tuesday as agitated supporters of BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay staged protests outside party headquarters.

Supporters were miffed with BJP Parliamentary Board as Upadhyay was denied ticket to contest elections in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Tempers were running high outside the Delhi BJP office as supporters shouted slogans and said, “They will not tolerate a parachute CM”.

However, Updahyay said he was not interested in contesting the polls at all.

“It was my decision not to contest & bring her to lead party in Delhi, how can we oppose her”, he said.

“We have to fight elections under Kiran Bedi’s leadership”, he added.

Upadhyay said that he will ensure party’s success in the upcoming polls under Bedi’s leadership.

“If I contest polls, then who will organise political candidates for my fellow candidates,” he said.

Upadhyay has been BJP Delhi unit chief for less than a year but it seems the BJP parliamentary board chose to overlook his credentials and chose Bedi as the chief ministerial candidate, indicating their lack of faith in his credentials.

Despite BJP leaders assuring there is no rift within the party over naming of the CM candidate, the party’s top brass is facing opposition over ‘newbie’ Bedi’s candidature.

Delhi Assembly polls are scheduled to be held on February 7 and results will be declared on February 10.