Both Harsh Vardhan, PM soft on tackling corruption: AAP's Sisodia

Says Vardhan's selection as BJP CM candidate proves that the party does not have a strong enough candidate

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia on Wednesday said that he found no difference between the BJP's chief ministerial candidate for the Delhi elections, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, both of whom were known to be soft on tackling corruption.

"The way Manmohan Singh was named as PM by the Congress, the BJP has named Harsh Vardhan. The way Manmohan Singhji keeps quiet at the corruption of Congress, Harsh Vardhanji does not raise a voice against (the) BJP's corruption," he said.

Expressing confidence about the Aam Aadmi Party's victory in the December 4 Delhi assembly polls, Sisodia said Harsh Vardhan's selection as BJP chief ministerial candidate, proves that the BJP does not have a strong enough candidate to take on three-time Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on various issues bedeviling the national capital.

 Harsh Vardhan's name as BJP chief ministerial candidate was announced at a press conference by party president Rajnath Singh after a BJP Parliamentary Board meeting here today.

The 58-year-old ENT specialist, who is a four-time MLA, will now lock horns with Sheila Dikshit of the Congress and Arvind Kejriwal of the AAP.

The BJP chose Dr. Harsh Vardhan, who played a large role in the national pulse polio campaign as the Health Minister, ahead of Delhi BJP President Vijay Goel.

The BJP believes Dr. Harsh Vardhan has a clean and non-controversial image, among citizens, which could attract votes for the party.

When the BJP Government was in power in Delhi between 1993 and 1998, he served in various capacities in the state cabinet, including as health, law and education minister.