I was asked to join BJP, claims AAP leader Kumar Vishwas

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas today confirmed reports that he had been approached by a newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament to join the saffron party soon after the general election results were declared.

Vishwas told ANI, "I got a call from a newspaper yesterday; they wanted to confirm about this proposal for me from the BJP. I thought I should not lie, and if I have been contacted them, I must divulge that news."

"I have confirmed about the proposal which came to me from a newly-elected BJP MP, who I have been friends with for the past ten to fifteen years, to the newspaper. I was approached by the newly-elected MP, who is also an old friend of mine," he added.

The poet-turned AAP leader, who contested the general elections against Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in the latter's political bastion of Amethi, said the BJP MP described him as "CM material" and said that if Kumar joined the saffron party, other AAP MLAs would follow suit.

"That newly-elected BJP MP also insisted that I work for building our nation, but I told them that you should work for nation building as you have the mandate. Our best wishes are with you," Kumar told ANI.

Kumar also said that a long time had passed since this conversation and he did not want to encourage speculation by divulging whether the MP was elected once or twice. He also added that a conversation with a friend should be kept out of the political ambit.

Vishwas said,"I go a long way with other BJP leaders too. Dr. Harshvardhan has treated me like a younger brother. I have asked him to prescribe medicines for me when I was ill, but that does not mean I will support wrong things like the removal of an honest officer like Sanjiv Chaturvedi from AIIMS."

BJP leaders, however, swiftly countered Vishwas over his claims.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said, "Kejriwal ji has written a new script for Kumar Vishvaas, it seems. He must reveal the name of the BJP MP, when he spoke to him and where, and how much did he offer for joining the BJP.