Kejriwal challenges Bedi to debate, BJP sidesteps, Maken ready (Intro Roundup)

BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi Tuesday sidestepped AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal's challenge for a debate on issues facing Delhi but Congress general secretary Ajay Maken expressed his willingness for a structured discussion among the three politicians who are leading the campaign of their parties for the Feb 7 assembly polls.

Kejriwal threw the challenge for a debate a day after Bedi was named the Bharatiya Janata Party's chief ministerial candidate.

The BJP retorted by terming Kejriwal "I-run-man" and Bedi "Iron Lady".

The battle for Delhi intensified Tuesday, following clarity about the campaign leaders of the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress.

Kejriwal and Bedi took potshots at each other.

Kejriwal, a former Delhi chief minister, led a road show in central Delhi but could not file his nomination papers as thousands joined him leading to a delay.

He could not reach the district magistrate's office on time and is expected to file nominations Wednesday.

Later, Kejriwal addressed a gathering in Krishna Nagar, the seat Bedi is contesting from and said the BJP would blame her for its defeat in the elections next month.

He claimed the BJP has already conceded defeat, and Bedi had joined the party to be "trapped".

Kejriwal assured cheaper power and water to the people of Delhi and attacked the Narendra Modi government over its "unfulfilled" promises.

Bedi also addressed a party workers' meeting in Krishna Nagar and promised a clean government.

Earlier in the day, Kejriwal invited Bedi for a debate.

"Ajay Maken, Kiran Bedi and I, all three should have a debate so that people can make an informed choice about selecting their chief minister," he told reporters.

He had earlier conveyed his challenge to Bedi for a debate through a tweet.

"Congrats 4 being nominated as BJP's CM candidate. I invite u 4 a public debate moderated by neutral person and telecast by all," Kejriwal posted.

Kejriwal, who is leading the AAP campaign, also said Bedi has blocked him on social networking site Twitter.

Bedi said she was willing to take part in a debate but in the Delhi assembly as her focus was on "delivery" and not on just discussion.

"I accept the challenge but I will do it only in the Delhi assembly. Right now, I am focusing on delivery, while debate is all he (Kejriwal) has been doing," Bedi told reporters.

In an interview to Times Now news channel, Bedi accused Kejriwal of resorting to drama. "I stand for a new kind of politics (that is) not accusatory, not agitational."

She said she was tracking "the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi had changed India".

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra called Kejriwal's move for a debate a publicity gimmick.

"The battle in Delhi is between Iron Lady and I-run-man -- a man who has been on the run for (the post of) CM to PM," Patra said, referring to Kejriwal's defeat in Varanasi to Modi.

He said Kejriwal stands for "drama, dharna and debate", while the BJP stands for "development, democracy and delivery".

"This debate is a gimmick to gain some cheap publicity. The AAP is all about publicity, they want to use Kiran ji for their publicity," Patra said.

Referring to Kejriwal speaking about Bedi blocking him on Twitter, Patra said the party leader had blocked Kejriwal on Twitter one year back and he should have approached her then.

Maken, who is the chief of the Congress campaign, said he welcomed a structured debate among the three leaders and said the idea was not mooted by Kejriwal but by a TV news channel.

Bedi, 65, joined the BJP Jan 15 and was named its chief ministerial nominee Monday night.

In the 2013 elections, the AAP won 28 seats and finished a close second to the BJP which bagged 31 seats. The Congress could win only eight seats in the 70-member assembly.