Congress leader Ajay Maken termed former Union Minister and recent defector to the BJP, Krishna Tirath, as a “first grade opportunist.”
Before setting out to file his nomination papers for the Sadar Bazar Assembly seat in Delhi on Wednesday, Mr. Maken said BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal were also opportunists who had used Anna Hazare to fulfill their own political ambitions.
“The less said about her the better. She is a first grade opportunist. I don't know what has happened to the BJP. Is there a dearth of capable leadership that a person who has lost her deposit as a Congress candidate has been taken in and given a ticket?" Mr. Maken countered, when questioned about Ms. Tirath's recent defection before he set out amid a large number of his followers who had gathered outside his new election office in Shastri Nagar.
He also said that the former cop and AAP politician turned BJP leader Kiran Bedi was not a very good listener.
“Kiran Bedi was a good cop but political administration requires you to be patient. You have to be a good listener and if you are a good listener then you cannot be Kiran Bedi,” he said, while also adding that both Kejriwal and Bedi had used Anna Hazare and the issue of corruption to ease into politics.
Mr. Maken's road-show was preceded by drum beating by congress workers which stopped traffic and drew several spectators who gaped open-mouthed at the gaudy procession which started near the busy Shastri Nagar metro station.
“I will walk on foot and follow the procession till it reaches ITO where Mr. Maken will file his nominations,”said Pal Sharma, a congress worker from Karol Bagh.
