Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi file nomination papers, Maken slams both as opportunists
TNN
New Delhi, 21 Jan 2015: BJP’s CM candidate Kiran Bedi and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday filed their nomination papers amid increasing verbal duel between the main challengers.
Kejriwal, who had missed filing his nomination on Tuesday, told reporters after filing his papers that his fight was against corruption and rising prices.
Hitting the streets, Kiran Bedi highlighted her priorities as she embarked on a roadshow to file her nomination papers and said she will bring out white paper for every department, if voted to power.
"Approach to all governance shall be diagnostic, curative and holistic. To ensure resources are optimally deployed and used on needs analysis," Kiran Bedi tweeted in the morning.
She also spoke of conducting a security perception index to understand what are the real security concerns impacting people in different districts.
Kiran Bedi paid tribute to a statue of Lala Lajpat Rai in Krishna Nagar constituency before starting her nomination yatra.
Kiran Bedi, who was accompanied on the roadshow with Union minister Harsh Vardhan, said she will take care of Krishna Nagar constituency as a gardener.
The Krishna Nagar constituency has traditionally been a BJP stronghold and was represented by Harsh Vardhan.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Ajay Maken, who will also file his nomination papers today, dubbed AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi as "opportunists" who "used" Anna Hazare to meet their own political ambitions.
"Both these leaders represent the same opportunistic forces. Both of them used Anna Hazare and the issue of corruption to come to the fore. They were earlier in the garb of an NGO and now they want to meet their own political ambitions," the Congress Campaign Committee chief said.
Both of them (AAP and BJP) are with each other. Many people who were with Anna Hazare earlier have joined the BJP now. So, it will not be surprising if in future the Aam Aadmi Party also merges with the Bharatiya Janata Party," said Maken.
"The merger of both parties is surely going to take place. Be it now, after six months or later. The people should consider this thing before casting their vote," he added.
"They all started with the name of corruption, but now no one is talking about that. Kiran Bedi has no experience of administration or policy making," Maken said.
Questioning Bedi’s political acumen, Maken said she was not a "good listener" in spite of her being a "good cop" in the past.
The elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly will be held in a single phase on February 7, with the counting of votes set to take place on February 10.