BJP names Kiran Bedi CM candidate for Delhi polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has named former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and activist Kiran Bedi as its chief ministerial candidate for the February 7 Delhi Assembly elections.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the party's parliamentary board here last night.

Briefing reporters, BJP President Amit Shah said that the parliamentary board had taken the decision unanimously.

He said Bedi would contest from the Krishna Nagar assembly seat, which was earlier represented by Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Harshvardhan.

Shah also rubbished reports of dissent within the Delhi BJP unit over Bedi's entry into the party.

The BJP also released the names of 61 other candidates who will contest the elections.

Former student leader Nupur Sharma will contest against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat. Senior leader Jagdish Mukhi will contest from the Janakpuri seat, while former Delhi BJP chief Vijendra Gupta will contest from Rohini.

Former union minister and Congress leader Krishna Tirath, who joined BJP yesterday, will contest from the Patel Nagar constituency. Former AAP MLA Vinod Kumar Binni will contest against AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the Patparganj seat.

Party national secretary R P Singh has been fielded from Rajinder Nagar seat, while M S Dhir, former Delhi Assembly speaker and AAP MLA, will contest from the Jangpura seat.

BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay will not contest the elections.

All sitting MLAs have been re-nominated by the party to contest the polls.

The list was announced by party General Secretary and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda.