Delhi elections: BJP cadre failed to support Kiran Bedi, says Bedi's husband

Chandigarh, Feb 10: With BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi suffering a shocking defeat in the Delhi polls, her husband Brij Bedi feels that one of the reasons for her loss was BJP cadre's failure to support her in the elections.

71-year old Brij also said the youth of Delhi played an important role in Aam Aadmi Party's spectacular victory in the high-stake poll battle in Delhi. "If she (Bedi) was fully supported, then why she could not have won," Brij questioned.

"She lost by over 2,000 votes while (BJP leader) Harsh Vardhan used to win (from Krishna Nagar) with a big margin. It means she did not get support..it means your (BJP) cadre did not work. They failed to deliver," he alleged, adding that Bedi's opponent was also not a known personality.

He was asked what he thought about Kiran Bedi's defeat in the elections. Defending his wife, Brij said, "It (BJP) lost not because of Kiran Bedi rather it was you (BJP) which had to ensure her victory...she was a face of good governance."

Bedi also pointed out that Delhi's youth got together in these elections to ensure that Arvind Kejriwal becomes Chief Minister.

"I feel that entire youth of Delhi had made their mind this time to ensure electoral victory for AAP and they played a significant role in party's victory," he told PTI over phone. Brij, a social activist, runs a school in Amritsar for providing free education to poor children.

He said a false campaign run by opposition parties may have gone against the former IPS officer, in which voters were told that she would remove all encroachments and carts (rehdis) from the roads. Brij also blamed the "negative" campaign run by the BJP against Kejriwal which proved "fatal" for the party.

Congratulating AAP for its historic win, Bedi said the lofty promises made by the party during Delhi polls also tilted votes in their favour, although fulfilling the elections promises would be a very difficult task.

Brij, who described Kiran Bedi's election foray as a "gamble", said his wife had told him not to worry as she was very strong. "I talked to her twice today. After the results, she told me not to worry.

She said she is a very strong person," Brij said who added that he was once impressed by AAP when it was formed.

PTI