The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said Kiran Bedi is welcome to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), adding that it seems the former top cop has changed her mind as she was against party politics during India Against Corruption Movement.
AAP leader Atishi Marlena while reacting to Bedi's move to join the BJP said it seems that she has changed her point of view.
When asked to comment on speculation that Bedi may be asked to contest against AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi Assembly constituency, Marlena said it just goes to show how nervous the BJP is today.
"The BJP knows that they have lost a lot of support on the ground that they might have had at the time of Lok Sabha elections. They know that there is a groundswell of support behind the Aam Aadmi Party," said Marlena.
"So, they are going to try many things one after the other to try and comeback into this election. But now I think it's too late whether they get x whether they get y, the Aam Aadmi Party is going to sweep the Delhi elections," he added.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh also questioned Bedi's decision to join the BJP.
"U Turn Ms Kiran Bedi? Or genuine change of heart? My best wishes to you. May God be with you!" he tweeted.
Earlier in the day, Bedi formally joined the BJP in the presence of party chief Amit Shah.
Shah welcomed Bedi into his party and announced that she would contest the Delhi Assembly polls.
"Kiran Bedi has joined the BJP. I welcome her. Her joining the party will strengthen the Delhi BJP. For fulfilling the aspirations of Delhi's voters, we get a colleague. Her positive contribution will help the BJP. She will contest the elections," he said.
Shah, however, downplayed media queries whether she would be the BJP's chief ministerial candidate in Delhi, saying that was a decision for the party parliamentary board to make.
"Every BJP worker aspires to and is capable of becoming the chief minister. A decision in this regard would be taken by the BJP parliamentary board," he said.
Bedi, who was a prominent member of Team Anna, was formally inducted into the BJP in the presence of top leaders and ministers Arun Jaitley and Dr. Harshvardhan. (ANI)