Amit Shah lays down line: No loose talk on Kiran Bedi

Officially, the BJP maintained that it is united and any decision on the chief ministerial candidate is the prerogative of its parliamentary board. Ruling out differences over Bedi, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said: “The right to announce the decision on chief ministerial candidate is with parliamentary board.”

After senior party leader Jagadish Mukhi said a campaign built around Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be the party’s best bet as it had paid dividends in assembly elections held so far, party MP Manoj Tiwari said on Monday that Bedi, who joined the BJP last week, should be treated like a party worker.

“We don’t need someone like a thaanedar (policeman). We need a leader who can take everyone along,” he was quoted as saying.

After being pulled up for his remarks, the Delhi North East MP toned down his opposition. “All these reports are completely wrong, we are very happy that Kiranji has joined BJP, we welcome her,” he said.

Mukhi, who told The Indian Express on Sunday that the state unit was not consulted before taking Bedi into the party fold, said on Monday: “The strategy of the party in elections in Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra has been that the country has chosen Modiji for five years and expectations of people will only be fulfilled if the same party rules at the Centre as well as in states… Chalo chalein Modi ke saath would be the best option for the party.”

But the party maintained that all’s well within the BJP. Talking to mediapersons, Javadekar blamed the AAP for fuelling rumours.

“All MPs and MLAs are working with the sole aim to bring BJP to power…People were in a dilemma last time and delivered a fractured verdict. Now they are happy with the performance of the Modi government and will give BJP two-third majority,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s parliamentary board met in the evening to finalise the candidates’ list . According to some party leaders, the top leadership may discuss the chief ministerial candidate also.

Another section said the BJP would not have a CM candidate, but would fight Delhi elections under the “tried and tested” Modi brand name.