Ramesh Bidhuri is BJP’s CM face, says Kejriwal; challenges him to a debate

Arvind Kejriwal claims BJP will pick Ramesh Bidhuri as its CM face for Delhi, sparking controversy and challenges for debate.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday (January 11, 2025) said that he has learnt from sources in the BJP that former South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri has been picked as the party’s Chief Minister face in Delhi and that the announcement would be made very soon.

Delhi Assembly elections 2025: Full coverage

Union Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed Mr. Kejriwal’s statement as “tactics” of the AAP and said “Today, Mr. Kejriwal announced the BJP’s chief minster face. Can Mr. Kejriwal announce the Chief Minister face? Should Mr. Kejriwal announce the BJP Chief Minister face.”

The AAP has been targeting the BJP in the run-up to the Delhi Elections scheduled on February 5 for not announcing their Chief Minister face or making clear what their vision is for Delhi if voted to power. The BJP has countered saying that the announcement will be made in due course of time.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Kejriwal challenged the Chief Minister face of the BJP, whenever the name is announced, to a debate on the vision the party has for Delhi if elected to power.

“The AAP has chosen me as the CM face for Delhi. If the BJP has chosen Mr. Bidhuri then I challenge him to a debate on what he has done for Delhi during his decade-long tenure as MP from South Delhi. The BJP has no vision for Delhi apart from hurling abuses at the AAP,” Mr. Kejriwal said.

Chief Minister Atishi, a day earlier, also said that she had learnt from sources that Mr. Bidhuri, who is her opponent in the Kalkaji constituency, would be announced as the Chief Minister face. “The party that has based its entire campaign on abusing the AAP and they will be rewarding that person who hurls the most abuses as its CM face,” Ms. Atishi said. She added that as soon as Mr. Bidhuri’s candidature was announced he used derogatory language against Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. “He has made objectionable statement in Parliament and has even abused my family,” Ms. Atishi said.