Ramesh Bidhuri is BJP’s CM face, claims Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday claimed that the BJP has picked former MP Ramesh Bidhuri as its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections and will soon make the announcement. Addressing a press conference here, the former chief minister also challenged Bidhuri to a public debate. “We have come to know from reliable sources that the BJP is going to name Ramesh Bidhuri as its CM candidate in the next one or two days,” Kejriwal claimed. “There should be an open public debate between the chief ministerial candidates of the AAP and the BJP, whether it is Ramesh Bidhuri or anyone else,” he said. “Yes, we are challenging the BJP to a debate,” Kejriwal said in response to questions from reporters.

The BJP has fielded Bidhuri from Kalkaji assembly constituency. He will take on AAP candidate and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, who is seeking re-election from the seat. Meanwhile, the senior BJP leader Amit Shah lashed out at Kejriwal over his claim that the BJP had finalised its leader Ramesh Bidhuri as the chief ministerial face of the party for the Delhi polls.“Can Kejriwal decide the BJP’s chief ministerial face?” he said, adding that the AAP supremo’s “manipulations” were understood by Delhi people.

“Lies, betrayal and going back on promises,” are the qualities of Kejriwal, Shah said, accusing the AAP leader of building a “Sheesh Mahal” instead of toilets in Delhi’s slum clusters.On Friday, Atishi also claimed that the BJP was going to name Bidhuri as its CM face and criticised the party for picking a leader who “hurls the most abuses”.Bidhuri’s recent remarks about Atishi triggered a controversy. He said Atishi “changed her father” by changing her surname from Marlena to Singh.He also drew flak for his remarks about Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi. He said he would make roads in his constituency smooth like “Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks”. He expressed regret following an uproar.