‘Congratulate Ramesh Bidhuri’, Kejriwal reiterates Atishi’s claim of BJP making Kalkaji candidate their CM face
Delhi Elections 2025: Atishi is seeking re-election from the Kalkaji seat in the Delhi Assembly polls and is pitted against BJP's Bidhuri and Congress's Alka Lamba.
Delhi Elections 2025: AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday reiterated Delhi Chief Minister Atishi's claim that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) would project Ramesh Bidhuri as their chief ministerial face for the upcoming Delhi elections. “We are getting information that Ramesh Bidhuri's name will be officially announced (as BJP CM face) in the coming one or two days. I congratulate Ramesh Bidhuri on becoming the CM face of BJP,” Kejriwal said. The claim comes a day after AAP leader Atishi had cited ‘credible sources’ to claim that the BJP would portray their Kalkaji candidate as the CM face for the upcoming elections.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, AAP national convenor and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal added, “Ramesh Bidhuri should tell what he did for the development of Delhi while being an MP. What is his vision for Delhi? ... After the official announcement of his name, there should be a debate between the CM candidates of BJP and AAP in front of the people of Delhi.”
There has been no confirmation from the BJP on their CM face for Delhi Elections 2025, scheduled to be held on 5 February. The AAP has projected Arvind Kejriwal as their CM face.
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On Friday, CM Atishi said this was BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri’s “reward" for being the “most abusive” leader of his party.
Responding to her claims, the BJP said the AAP, instead of speculating on its CM face, should explain how its party chief Arvind Kejriwal was still trying to be chief minister when the Supreme Court imposed restrictions on him due to corruption cases against him.
Atishi is seeking re-election from the Kalkaji seat in the Delhi Assembly polls and is pitted against BJP's Bidhuri and Congress's Alka Lamba.
AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, have dubbed the BJP as "Gali Galauj" (abusive) Party due to sustained attacks on them by BJP leaders, ahead of the assembly elections.
Delhi Elections 2025: Ramesh Bidhuri Controversies
Ramesh Bidhuri was recently embroiled in controversy over his remarks against the Delhi CM. He said Atishi “changed her father" by changing her surname from "Marlena" to "Singh".
The BJP's Kalkaji candidate also drew flak for his remarks on Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi. He said he would make roads in his constituency ‘smooth’ like "Priyanka Gandhi's cheeks". Following an uproar, Ramesh Bidhuri has expressed regret and ‘took back his statements’.
Notably, Mint had reported on 8 January that the back-to-back controversies have sparked ‘chatter’ within the BJP about the possibility of a woman candidate replacing him. Bidhuri, the former Lok Sabha MP from South Delhi, is the saffron party's candidate from the Kalkaji seat for the February 5 assembly polls.
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Business NewsElections‘Congratulate Ramesh Bidhuri’, Kejriwal reiterates Atishi’s claim of BJP making Kalkaji candidate their CM face
First Published:11 Jan 2025, 06:12 PM IST
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