Delhi polls: Congress accepts ANI's invitation for live debate with Kejriwal, Bedi

The Congress party on Tuesday accepted ANI's invitation for a debate with the chief ministerial candidates of its rivals in the Delhi Assembly elections, from Bharatiya Janata Party's Kiran Bedi and Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal.

"I accept ANI's invitation. Let ANI decide on neutral moderators that are accepted by all three parties so that a structured debate can take place. When a television channel extended their invitation for the debate I found it as a good tradition," said Maken.

"I think there should be a structured debate. The debate can be taken up with any television channel or agency along with a moderator which is mutually accepted to all three of us. There cannot be a better way and opportunity to inform people about your vision. A neutral panel of five people should sit there," he added.

Praising the idea of open debate between all the three major parties Maken further said that such an exercise will be very beneficial for Delhi's voters.

"In a state like Delhi, where the majority of public has access to electronic media through various means, such kinds of debates help people decide their vote. I don't think if there can be a better way for this."

Earlier in the day, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal had invited former IPS officer Kiran Bedi for a public debate, after congratulating her for being nominated as Bharatiya Janata Party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Delhi polls.

"Congrats for being nominated as BJP's CM candidate. I invite you for a public debate moderated by a neutral person and telecast by all," Kejriwal tweeted.

Kiran Bedi later accepted the challenge.

Bedi was named as BJP's chief ministerial candidate on Monday night and will be fielded from Krishna Nagar seat in Delhi while Kejriwal will contest Delhi from the New Delhi constituency.