Always tried to convince Kiran Bedi to join politics: Kejriwal

In what is seen as a subtle dig at Kiran Bedi for joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said he had also tried to convince her to take a plunge into politics.

Bedi parted ways with Kejriwal after he decided to float a political party in October 2012 and was severely critical of his decision. "I have been fond of Kiran Bediji. I always tried to convince her that she should join politics. I am happy she did it today," Kejriwal tweeted.

However, at AAP's press briefing, party leader Sanjay Singh termed her joining the BJP as "shocking". "It is sad and shocking that Bedi who had been maintaining that she will always remain apolitical and keep raising the issues of people has joined the BJP. Our best wishes are with her," he said.

Kejriwal had even invited her to join AAP and be the party's chief ministerial candidate before assembly polls in 2013 which she had declined.

Bedi on Thursday said she joined the BJP due to the inspirational leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Asked whether the BJP may project her as the chief ministerial candidate, Singh said "It does not look so."

Sixty-five-year-old Bedi was inducted into the BJP fold in the presence of party President Amit Shah and Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Harsh Vardhan at the party's headquarters.

Shah announced that Bedi will contest the polls but declined to answer whether she will be pitted against Kejriwal in the prestigious New Delhi constituency.

Bedi was highly critical of Kejriwal, especially when he staged a dharna outside the Rail Bhavan during his 49-day government. She had been hailing Modi and supporting the BJP through her Twitter posts since the start of campaign for Lok Sabha polls last year.

Image: AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal with Kiran Bedi when they were part of Team Anna