Kiran Bedi missing from BJP’s birthday bash

Party says invite for the 35th Founding Day was sent to ‘all members’, absence raises questions

kiran bedi, Kiran bedi blog, Kiran Bedi open letter, Kiran Bedi Delhi polls, BJP, BJP birthday bash, BJP meeting

While Bedi’s supporters said the Delhi leadership did not even invite her to the Tuesday meetings, others said the meetings were a routine affair that everyone knew of. For workers of the party, there is no invitation, leaders said.

The BJP celebrated its 35th foundation day on Monday at the party’s national headquarters and every worker of the party, including the top leadership, were part of the celebrations barring one — the chief ministerial candidate of the Delhi BJP unit for the Assembly polls, Kiran Bedi.

Sources said Bedi’s absence has raised many questions among the party leadership. Bedi, who joined the BJP just a few days before being announced as the party’s chief ministerial candidate, was nowhere to be seen during the event. However, Bedi said she did not know of the celebrations .

[related-post]

“It is as if she never was a part of the party. After the polls, she left on a tour abroad. Even when she was in the country, she did not get involved in routine affairs of the party. She should have made an appearance at the party headquarters today. She is still a member of the BJP,” a senior leader said.

While her complete absence from the party platform has been noticed by leaders, many continue to question the top leadership who brought her in to the party.

“Do not ask us about her contribution to the party since we lost elections. Ask the senior leadership. They must answer her non-participation. We are workers and have slugged it out for years to reach this place today. Every BJP leader has been a dedicated worker of the party before they got the recognition of a leader,” a senior leader said.

On being asked whether Bedi received an invite for the event, a senior leader said a message had been sent to all members.

Story continues below this ad

When Bedi was asked why she abstained from attending, she said, “I was not aware of any such celebration at 11, Ashoka Road (today). If I had known, I would have attended.”

Meanwhile, the party celebrated the Delhi unit’s oldest hands with senior leaders visiting residences of the leaders who had dedicated their lives to the party — such as Balraj Madhok and Bhai Mahaveer.

The latter is the oldest RSS leader in Delhi.

RSS pointsman in BJP Vijay Sharma and other leaders went to the residence of former Delhi chief minister Madan lal Khurana to felicitate him.

Speaking on the occasion, BJP National President Amit Shah attacked both the Congress and AAP. “BJP is a worker-based democratic party. Honesty and sacrifice of our workers is unparalleled.

Story continues below this ad

Parties like the Congress want our country to follow the beaten track. Some other parties are indulging in misleading propaganda that they are for the common man, but the reality is that there are many BJP leaders who do not have their own houses or any bank balance. BJP leaders are common people who have established their distinct identity in their own fields and in the socio-political horizon,” Shah said.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...