Kiran Bedi's campaign in-charge quits party, calls her dictatorial

In an embarrassment to the Bharatiya Janata Party, its chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi’s campaign assistant Narendra Tandon on Monday quit the party just days ahead of Delhi polls, accusing her of adopting “dictatorial” attitude.

Tandon, a former secretary of the party’s city unit and a permanent invitee to Delhi BJP’s executive committee, tendered his resignation saying it was difficult for him to continue working with Bedi.

BJP, however, said his quitting the party will not in any way affect its election preparations as he was a “low-level” functionary and his performance was “not impressive”.

Tandon, who was part of Bedi’s campaign team after she was named the chief ministerial candidate by BJP for the February 7 assembly election, said, “I resigned from BJP today

because of Bedi’s dictatorial attitude.” “It was difficult for me to continue under her," Tandon added.

Asked about Tandon’s resignation, Bedi refused to comment.

Delhi BJP, however, appeared unfazed and claimed he had “created trouble” in the past too.

“His past record is not very impressive. He has created trouble for the party in the past as well. He had filed nomination against party candidate Rajni Abbi in the 2013 assembly polls in Timarpur constituency,” Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, adding that Tandon’s resignation will not affect the party.

Tandon was general secretary of Delhi University’s Students Union in late 1990s during his stint with BJP’s Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. He rose through the party ranks and later became secretary of Delhi BJP when O P Kohli was made the city unit chief.